Spain will reveal on Thursday whether it will participate in Eurovision 2026, as a joint parliamentary–national broadcaster committee questions RTVE’s leadership ahead of the European Broadcasting Union General Assembly.
The Spanish national broadcaster RTVE will appear this Thursday before the joint committee of the Spanish Congress and Senate on oversight of the national broadcaster, where its management will respond to various questions concerning public broadcasting in Spain. One key issue that particularly interests Eurovision fans is whether Spain will participate in Eurovision 2026 and signal a significant climbdown, or whether it will maintain the hard line it has led against Israel and its allies in the contest.
On Thursday at 16:00 (CET), the joint committee of the Congress and Senate responsible for supervising the Spanish national broadcaster will convene, during which RTVE’s leadership will have to answer questions from different politicians. This public hearing is part of the legal obligations of the Spanish national broadcaster, which is accountable to parliament and includes representation of various political parties, unlike some other public broadcasters in Europe.
The question of participation in Eurovision 2026 has been formally added to the committee’s agenda, meaning that RTVE’s management will be required to address it. The representative who raised the issue is Ramon Morales Quesada, from the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, the party of Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, which has taken a clear stance in Spain opposing Israel’s policies.
Over recent months, coverage on the Spanish national broadcaster has reflected the current government’s line and has been widely perceived as leaning strongly toward the Palestinian side. Senior figures at RTVE have openly expressed support for the Palestinian cause and strong opposition to Israel’s participation in various international forums, including the Eurovision Song Contest. The Spanish national broadcaster has even gone so far as to threaten to boycott the contest if Israel continues to participate. However, in light of the current ceasefire and following the major changes recently introduced to the Eurovision voting procedures, there is now a realistic possibility that Spain will step back from its boycott threats and continue to participate in Eurovision as usual, even if Israel remains in the competition.
Four countries—Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and the Netherlands—previously threatened to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel were allowed to compete. The Netherlands even declared it would not participate alongside Israel “even in the event of a complete ceasefire in Gaza.” In addition, Iceland hinted at the possibility of withdrawal but never made an official declaration, while Belgium announced it would wait for Israel’s final participation approval before deciding its own course.
The final decision on Israel’s participation may still depend on developments in the political and security arenas. While the ceasefire has temporarily reduced pressure on Israel’s participation, renewed conflict in Gaza could again shift the situation. In the meantime, the debate surrounding Israel’s presence in Eurovision continues to stir tension across Europe, placing Eurovision 2026 before one of the most significant tests in its history—whether it can uphold its apolitical character and cultural values or succumb to external pressures.
Spain in Eurovision 2025
“Esa Diva” (in English: “That Diva”) is the title of the song performed by singer Melody, who represented Spain at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.
Spain finished 24th with 37 points – 27 points from the juries, placing 21st, and only 10 points from the televotes, placing 22nd. In the last 20 years, Spain managed to finish only 3 times in the top 10.
Eurovision 2025: This was Spain’s 65th participation in Eurovision. Spain joined the competition in 1961 and won it twice consecutively in 1968 and 1969. Spain has hosted the contest on its territory only once in 1969 and since then holds the longest waiting time since its last victory – 56 years.
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Ofek Jerassi is an Israeli reporter, editor, content creator, and commentator, specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has developed his extensive expertise since childhood, becoming a close follower of the contest. For the past three years, he has served as a writer and editor for EuroMix—Israel’s largest Eurovision website and one of the world’s leading platforms in the field, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Ofek covered Eurovision 2025 on-site in Basel from the press center in the host city, providing EuroMix readers with firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and exclusive reactions from the audience, artists, and experts. His in-depth knowledge and broad familiarity with the Eurovision world are evident in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
In his personal life, Ofek is a medic and avid traveler. He writes out of a genuine love for Eurovision, placing strong emphasis on credibility, professional commentary, and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
