The first ‘Big Five’ EurovisionThe nation has decided to refuse participation in the2026 song contest if Israel competes.
Spain has now become a member ofNetherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Icelandin warning of pulling out due to Israel's involvement.
The other nations in the 'Big Five' consist of Britain, Germany, Italy, and France.
They offer the largest monetary support to Eurovision and are automatically eligible for the final stage.
The Spanish public broadcaster RTVE made the announcement after a board meeting on Tuesday.
Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has previously advocated for Israel to be excluded from the event.
Which nations are refusing to participate in Eurovision?
Last week, the Dutch media organization AVROTROS stated that it could 'no longer support Israel's involvement in the current scenario, considering the ongoing and significant hardship faced in Gaza.'
'If the EBU chooses not to accept Israel, AVROTROS will be happy to participate next year,' it added.
They also mentioned the Israeligovernmentwas employing the competition as 'a political tool.'
This followed the announcement by Irish broadcaster RTE that it would not participate if Israel is involved.
Why are nations considering refusing to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest?
An RTE statement issued earlier this week mentioned that during the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) General Assembly in July, 'several EBU members expressed worries regarding Israel's involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest'.
It stated: 'RTE would like to express its gratitude to the EBU for the comprehensive consultation process that began following that meeting, as well as the extension of the option to withdraw from participation without any penalty until December.'
The ultimate choice regarding involvement will be determined once the EBU has made its decision.
Which nations are considering refusing to participate in Eurovision 2026 due to Israel?
Spain
SpanishCulture Minister Ernest Urtasun has warned that the nation may pull out of Eurovision 2026 if Israel is permitted to take part.
‘I don’t believe we should treat Israel's involvement in global events as though there's no issue,’ Urtasun stated, according toEuroNews.
Occurrences such as Eurovision [bring] a particular image of a nation. In the case of Eurovision, it is not an individual performer who takes part, but someone who represents the citizens of that country.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also urged for Israel's prohibition.
Spain's dedication to human rights needs to be ongoing and uniform, including inEurope,’ he said.
If Russia was prohibited from taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest following the invasion of Ukraine, then Israel should also be excluded. We must not tolerate double standards, even within the realm of culture.
Slovenia
SloveniaThe national broadcaster RTVSLO stated: 'At the EBU General Assembly held in London at the start of July, RTV Slovenia expressed its stance that if Israel were to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest - due to the genocide in Gaza - it would not take part in the competition.'
'The EBU is currently engaging in discussions with its members about Israel's potential involvement in the upcoming event,' they added.
Iceland
IcelandicThe broadcaster RÚV has also raised concerns about whether the country will participate in the contest next year, depending on the EBU's decision regarding Israel, as reported by Iceland's publication.Visir.
The media outlet stated: 'It is RTÉ's stance that Ireland will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel's involvement proceeds, and the ultimate determination about Ireland's participation will be taken after the EBU makes its decision.'
RTÉ believes it would be unacceptable for Ireland to take part, considering the continuous and tragic loss of lives in Gaza.
‘RTÉ is also very worried about the specific’murder of reporters in Gaza, the refusal to allow international journalists into the area, and the situation of the remaining captives.
Last year, Israel's participant Yuval Raphael and her song "New Day Will Rise" secured second position, earning the public's television vote.
The music competition has consistently maintained political neutrality, but in recent years, there have been demonstrations against Israel's ongoing military operations inGaza, which was introduced following the attack byHamasterrorists on 7 October 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities.
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