Spain suspends its participation in Eurovision 2027 in protest against Israel’s presence

Spain intends to maintain its suspension of participation in Eurovision 2027, in protest against Israel’s presence in the competition amid the war in Gaza. José Pablo López, president of Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, announced that he would propose to the Board of Directors that the withdrawal decision be maintained.

“There has been technical progress, but there are clearly still unresolved ethical issues,” López said. The proposal is set to be reviewed by the leadership of the national broadcaster.

Spain withdrew from this year’s edition, alongside the Netherlands, Iceland and Ireland, challenging Israel’s participation. Ireland and the Netherlands have likewise announced that they will not participate in the 2027 edition, scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria.

Spain’s withdrawal could have significant consequences for the organizers. The country is part of the Big Five, made up of the main funders of the European Broadcasting Union, and qualifies automatically for the Eurovision final.

The controversy comes amid the conflict in Gaza, which began in 2023 following Hamas attacks on Israel. Although the fighting ceased in October 2025, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported more than 1,300 deaths resulting from Israeli attacks, figures considered credible by the UN. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is one of Israel’s critics and has repeatedly described its actions as “genocide”.