Spain: "We may not participate in Eurovision if Israel is accepted"

Spain's Minister of Culture Ernest Urtasun has opposed Israel's participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. He stated that if Israel is not excluded from the competition, Spain should also not participate in this event.

BAKU.WS reports that in his statement to the Spanish state radio RNE, the minister emphasized, "Like Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands, we must also make our position clear. If Israel is not removed from the competition, Spain should not participate."

Urtasun also recalled that the final stage of the "La Vuelta" cycling race in Madrid was interrupted due to anti-Israel protests, stating, "Cultural and sports events should not legitimize genocide."

The minister, as a spokesperson for the "Sumar" alliance, the junior partner in the coalition government, also noted that Spain has taken a tougher stance against Israel in recent months. He accused the main opposition People's Party (PP) of "displaying an unreliable position."

Currently, several European countries are protesting Israel's admission to Eurovision. Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands have already officially announced that they will not participate in the competition in 2026. Iceland, Belgium, and Spain have stated that they will make their decision about participation depending on whether Israel is accepted.