Spain reaffirms plan to skip Eurovision if Israel is allowed to compete

The head of Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has reaffirmed that his country will not join the 2026 Eurovision contest if Israel is allowed to compete - a protest by the Spanish delegation against Israel's genocide in Gaza.

Corporación de Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) president José Pablo López's statement follows weeks of lobbying by the Austrian delegation and others to keep Israel in the contest, which will take place in Vienna.

"We hold the same opinion [...] that Israel's presence was unsustainable — firstly, for the genocide. Eurovision is a contest, but human rights are not." López told a parliamentary hearing on Thursday.

López's remarks come a week before a crucial vote on whether Israel can participate in the competition.