After pulling out of 2026 event, Spain now refuses to broadcast 2026 contest, but artists push for unity over politicisation.
Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has confirmed it will refuse to broadcast this year’s Eurovision Song Contest as part of an ongoing boycott of the competition after Israel was allowed to compete.
The move marks the first time the show will not be broadcast in the country since Spain began competing in 1961.
Last year, RTVE said the country would boycott the next competition unless Israel was expelled over the war in Gaza.
But a vote taken in December by the European Broadcasting Union confirmed that Israel is allowed to take part in the contest’s 70th edition.
“The situation in Gaza, despite the ceasefire and the approval of the peace process, and Israel’s use of the contest for political purposes, make it increasingly difficult to maintain Eurovision as a neutral cultural event,” said RTVE general secretary Alfonso Morales.
Meanwhile more than 1,000 figures from the global entertainment industry have signed an open letter urging that Israel be allowed to participate in Eurovision.
The signatories, spanning actors, musicians, and cultural leaders, criticise what they describe as the politicisation of the event.
The initiative, led by Creative Community for Peace, highlights music’s role as a unifying force. In the letter, supporters argue that Eurovision should remain a platform for connection rather than division, warning against turning the competition into a vehicle for boycotts.
Signatories include Helen Mirren, Mila Kunis, and Amy Schumer, as well as US rock star Gene Simmons.
Source: Olive Express, i24News