Eurovision 2026 unfolds as a political drama: Portugal challenges Spain amid a media storm centered on Israel’s contested participation.
Over the past two days, European news outlets have been abuzz with one question: will Portugal join the wave of countries threatening to boycott Eurovision 2026 if Israel remains in the contest? Today, Portugal provided a clear answer. But why did the suggestion of Israel’s expulsion spark friction between the Portuguese and Spanish national broadcasters, with Portugal dismissing Spain’s report as lies?
Yesterday, Spanish national broadcaster RTVE reported that Portugal was considering joining a boycott of Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to remain in the competition. According to the report, Spain had already made clear it will withdraw for certain if Israel participates – joining other nations like Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia. RTVE also hinted that Belgium might adopt a similar line, although this has not been officially declared.
The claim was broadcast at the conclusion of a segment on LA 1, one of the channels of the Spanish national broadcaster, about the dramatic vote expected in early November at the European Broadcasting Union, which will determine whether Israel continues to take part in Eurovision or is barred from the contest.
Watch the Spanish coverage here:
La organización del Festival de Eurovisión adelanta un mes la asamblea en la que los países deben posicionarse a favor o en contra de la participación de Israel
▶ https://t.co/w5yKelrTzC pic.twitter.com/XmLuCP6Whb
— Telediarios de TVE (@telediario_tve) September 25, 2025
Portugal Denies: “False and Inexplicable”
Today, Portuguese broadcaster RTP publicly challenged Spain’s claims. In an interview with the program “Renascença”, representatives of Portugal’s national broadcaster confirmed that no Spanish approach was ever made on the subject and that the media drama was unfounded. “The report by RTVE is false and inexplicable”, they said, stressing that Portugal has no intention of boycotting Eurovision 2026.
Spanish Manipulation to Pressure Israel’s Expulsion
The baseless narrative pushed by the Spanish national broadcaster strengthens speculation that Spain is urging other nations to boycott Israel. This maneuver has already led to a rupture in relations between RTVE and the European Broadcasting Union, as Spain leverages its privileged status as a member of the “Big Five” and its leadership of the Eurovision focus group.
It should be noted that only hours before the announcement that the EBU will bring forward the vote regarding Israel’s disqualification from Eurovision 2026, RTVE President Jose Pablo Lopez Sanchez harshly criticized EBU leadership. Among his remarks:
“It is time to break the silence within the European Broadcasting Union about the genocide in Gaza. The damage inflicted on the contest by the current EBU management is massive”.
Sanchez underscored Spain’s role as a major player within the EBU:
“We are not only part of the EBU, but we also lead the Eurovision focus group and constitute the core of the EBU as one of the Big Five.[…] We are all aware that this competition is not just a song contest. Its political weight is enormous. This is the most political contest in existence. We all know it, and Israel knows it too, which is why it uses it politically. That is why there is a high chance it will win in Vienna”.
The repeated statements and the rhetoric of RTVE’s president, together with Spain’s effort to pressure other countries, underscore the growing tensions between RTVE and the EBU.
“Deslocado” (translated as: “Displaced”) is the song that will be performed by NAPA band, representing Portugal in Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Portugal finished 21st with 50 points, ranked 19th in jury vote and 21st in public vote.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Portugal’s 57th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Portugal joined the competition in 1964 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2017 when singer Salvador Sobral won first place with the song “Amar pelos dois”.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
