On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Spain officially joined a growing number of countries considering a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest. Their condition? Israel’s exclusion from the competition due to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
This decision follows similar declarations from the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia, significantly amplifying the pressure on both Israel and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization behind the immensely popular annual event.
The announcement was made by Spain’s public broadcaster, RTVE, during a board meeting held in Madrid.
This diplomatic tension isn’t new; it comes amidst already strained relations between Spain and Israel. Recently, major protests against an Israeli-owned cycling team disrupted the Spanish Vuelta race. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez himself stated on Monday, September 15, that he believes Israel should be banned from international sporting events.
Last week, the EBU confirmed it was actively consulting its member broadcasters on how best to “manage participation and geopolitical tensions” surrounding the song contest. They have given members until mid-December to confirm their intent to participate.
While Russia was famously barred from Eurovision following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Israel has controversially continued to compete in the past two editions, despite ongoing debates about its involvement.
The grand finale of Eurovision is currently scheduled to take place in Vienna this coming May.