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Spain has escalated the growing crisis surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest, confirming it will not broadcast the 2026 competition in protest over Israel鈥檚 continued participation.

It follows the news in December that Spain would join Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in their decision to not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest聽scheduled for Vienna next May.

Since then several previous winners have also begun distancing themselves from the competition.

Spain will not broadcast the 2026 Eurovision competition

Spain鈥檚 public broadcaster RTVE announced the move this week, marking the first time the country will not air Eurovision since it debuted in 1961.

In late 2025, when Spain confirmed it would withdraw from competing they had stopped short of ruling out a broadcast.

At the time, RTVE said it had 鈥渟erious doubts鈥� about the contest鈥檚 neutrality.

Now, that position has hardened into a full boycott of both participation and coverage.

According to reports, RTVE officials said the contest鈥檚 mission of neutrality had become 鈥渋mpossible to maintain,鈥� describing the current climate as one of 鈥減olitical distrust.鈥� The broadcaster鈥檚 withdrawal also includes pulling its financial contribution, despite Spain being part of Eurovision鈥檚 influential 鈥淏ig Five鈥� alongside the UK, France, Germany and Italy.

Spain鈥檚 Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun backed the decision, calling it 鈥渂rave,鈥� and adding that 鈥渃ultural events should not provide a platform for states involved in ongoing humanitarian crises.鈥�

The move places Spain at the forefront of what is shaping up to be one of Eurovision鈥檚 most significant political disruptions. While several countries have withdrawn from competing, most had still planned to broadcast the event. Slovenia remains the only other nation to confirm it will not air the contest at all.

The controversy stems from the European Broadcasting Union decision to allow Israel to compete despite the ongoing war in Gaza, a move that has triggered widespread backlash across Europe and the world.

The fallout has extended beyond broadcasters. Artists have also taken symbolic action, with 2024 winner Nemo returning their trophy, stating that 鈥淓urovision says it stands for unity, inclusion, and dignity for all. Those values made this contest meaningful to me.鈥� They added 鈥淏ut Israel鈥檚 continued participation, during what the UN鈥檚 Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded to be a genocide, shows a clear conflict between those ideals and the decisions made by the EBU.鈥�

They continued: 鈥淭his is not about individuals or artists. The contest was repeatedly used to soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing, all while the EBU insisted Eurovision is 鈥榥on-political鈥�. And when entire countries withdraw over this contradiction, it should be clear that something is deeply wrong. That鈥檚 why I鈥檝e decided that I鈥檓 sending my trophy back to the EBU headquarters in Geneva.鈥�

鈥淚f the values we celebrate onstage aren’t lived offstage, then even the most beautiful songs lose their meaning,鈥� they concluded. 鈥淚’m waiting for the moment those words and actions align. Until then, this trophy is yours.鈥�

Further pressure has come from Ireland鈥檚 Charlie McGettigan, who signalled his intent to return his own trophy, saying Nemo appeared 鈥渧ery sincere and intelligent鈥� and that they 鈥渟tated their case well鈥�.

In Australia, debate continues over the country鈥檚 involvement. SBS has confirmed it will remain in the competition, despite protests and calls for a boycott from artists including former entrant Montaigne.

Meanwhile, Australia鈥檚 2026 representative Delta Goodrem is preparing to take the stage in Vienna with her entry Eclipse. The pop powerhouse has already generated strong local support, with the theatrical track gaining traction across streaming platforms and charts.

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is set to proceed in Vienna from May 12 – 16.