Standfirst: Spain’s public broadcaster is preparing to maintain its withdrawal from Eurovision 2027, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel’s continued eligibility to compete. The RTVE board is expected to make a final decision by mid-October.
Spain’s Eurovision boycott could continue into next year after José Pablo López, president of the country’s public broadcaster RTVE, backed staying out of the contest while Israel remains eligible to participate.
López told a Spanish Senate committee that it was “deeply painful” for Israel’s public broadcaster to remain in the competition while the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues. He said he would ask the RTVE board to uphold Spain’s withdrawal, with a decision expected by mid-October.
Why Spain is considering another Eurovision boycott
Spain withdrew from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Austria, joining Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia. The broadcasters involved objected to Israel’s participation amid the continuing conflict and humanitarian emergency in Gaza.
The dispute places the European Broadcasting Union and participating public broadcasters under renewed political and ethical pressure. Eurovision is organised around the principle of participation by broadcasters, but national broadcasters retain responsibility for deciding whether their countries take part.
RTVE’s position is not yet a final board decision. López’s comments indicate support from the broadcaster’s president, while the formal decision remains with RTVE’s governing body.
Spain’s position carries particular weight
Spain is one of Eurovision’s “Big Five”, alongside France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. These countries make major financial contributions to the European Broadcasting Union and automatically qualify for the contest final.
A continued Spanish withdrawal would therefore have a direct impact on the 2027 event’s line-up and finances. It would also add to concerns about the contest’s ability to maintain broad participation while responding to controversy surrounding Israel’s inclusion.
Ireland and the Netherlands have already confirmed withdrawals
Spain is not alone in reconsidering its involvement. Ireland and the Netherlands have already announced that they will boycott Eurovision 2027, which is scheduled to take place in Bulgaria.
Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ said its participation could not be justified because of the continuing loss of civilian life in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis affecting the territory. Eurovision director Martin Green said he regretted RTÉ’s decision but respected the broadcaster’s position.
Dutch broadcaster AvroTros also confirmed its withdrawal, saying that participation was no longer consistent with principles including trustworthiness, independence and humanity.
Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain were among the five countries that opted out of the 2026 contest. Iceland and Slovenia were also part of that group.
The wider political and humanitarian context
The Eurovision dispute is taking place against the backdrop of the war between Israel and Hamas and the severe humanitarian situation in Gaza. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his government have been vocal supporters of Palestinian rights and critics of Israel’s military actions.
Health authorities in Gaza have reported tens of thousands of deaths since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli military operation. The figures are reported by Gaza’s health ministry and have been treated as broadly reliable by the United Nations, although wartime casualty reporting remains difficult to verify independently.
The Eurovision controversy does not represent an EU decision or a ruling by a European institution. It is a series of decisions by national public broadcasters, within a contest administered by the European Broadcasting Union. The issue is nevertheless significant across Europe because it involves public-service media, cultural diplomacy and the political consequences of participation in a major international event.
What happens next?
The immediate next step is for RTVE’s board to consider whether Spain will remain outside Eurovision 2027. Until that decision is formally announced, Spain’s continued boycott is supported by the broadcaster’s president but should not be described as final.
The European Broadcasting Union will also have to manage the practical consequences of the withdrawals, including the contest’s participating countries and final line-up. The organisation’s position on Israel’s eligibility remains central to whether further broadcasters take similar action.
- Spain: RTVE’s president supports continuing the boycott; the board is expected to decide by mid-October.
- Ireland: RTÉ has confirmed it will not participate in Eurovision 2027.
- The Netherlands: AvroTros has also confirmed a boycott.
- 2027 contest: Eurovision is scheduled to be held in Bulgaria.
What does this mean for Eurovision?
A further Spanish withdrawal would deepen the challenge facing Eurovision organisers. Spain is one of the contest’s most prominent participants and a guaranteed finalist, so its absence would affect both the programme and the event’s financial structure.
More broadly, the decisions by Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands show how national broadcasters are weighing cultural participation against public accountability and humanitarian concerns. The 2027 contest’s final shape will depend on RTVE’s forthcoming decision and whether other participating broadcasters reassess their involvement.
The key takeaway: Spain has not yet made a final decision on Eurovision 2027, but RTVE’s president supports maintaining the boycott over Israel’s participation. The broadcaster’s board is expected to settle the matter by mid-October, while Ireland and the Netherlands have already confirmed that they will not take part.
