Chanel: “I Don’t Support Israel’s Participation in Eurovision”

Chanel: “I Don’t Support Israel’s Participation in Eurovision”

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Hypocrisy hits new notes: Chanel, who performed in Israel alongside Noa Kirel two years ago, breaks her silence with harsh remarks about Israel’s Eurovision 2025 participation — sparking outrage online. The Spanish singer Chanel, who represented Spain at Eurovision 2022 and secured third place, surprised many when asked about Israel’s participation in the contest — admitting she does not support it. The moment occurred during an interview in which the reporter directly questioned Israel’s involvement in Eurovision. Her answer instantly went viral, reigniting the debate about the intersection between pop culture and political tensions on the international stage. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); What Was Said and Who Asked? During a press event, Chanel was approached by a Spanish journalist from "No Somos Nadie", a media outlet known for provocative questions designed to spark headlines and controversy. She stopped for a few questions about her career but appeared uneasy, expressing hesitation toward some of them. Inevitably, she was asked what she thought...
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Spain: Contestant list for “Benidorm 2026” revealed

Spain: Contestant list for “Benidorm 2026” revealed

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Spain’s national broadcaster has unveiled the 18 artists competing in “Benidorm Fest 2026”, the show that will determine Spain’s entry for Eurovision 2026. Discover the full lineup and event dates. Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE continues preparations for the upcoming “Benidorm Fest 2026”, the show that has chosen Spain’s Eurovision representative since 2022. This year, 870 songs were submitted - down from the record 1,000 entries submitted last year, yet slightly higher than 825 in 2024 and close to the 876 submitted in 2023. A selection committee from RTVE listened to all submissions and chose the best 18 songs for the live festival. Today, the national broadcaster held a press conference revealing the names of the contestants. The participating songs will be officially released on December 18th, 2025. Despite the recent statement by Spain’s board of directors that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to participate, RTVE continues preparations “as usual”. The broadcaster emphasized that the Benidorm...
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Spain to Announce Participants for Benidorm Fest 2026 This Thursday

Spain to Announce Participants for Benidorm Fest 2026 This Thursday

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE will reveal the 16 participants of Benidorm Fest 2026 this Thursday—despite earlier threats to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel takes part. Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE has announced that on Thursday, October 9th, it will publish the list of 16 artists competing in the fifth edition of Benidorm Fest 2026.Despite a previous statement from the network’s board declaring that Spain would withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to participate, RTVE continues preparations for the festival as planned. The network emphasized that Benidorm Fest has “its own life and identity” and will be held independently of any final decision regarding Spain’s Eurovision participation in 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision-Style Production and Open Rehearsals The upcoming edition of Benidorm Fest will feature major production upgrades and a format more closely aligned with the Eurovision Song Contest itself.For the first time, public open rehearsals will be held, marking a step toward a more immersive and international...
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Charlotte Perrelli In? The Date Spain Will Reveal Its Benidorm Fest Contestants

Charlotte Perrelli In? The Date Spain Will Reveal Its Benidorm Fest Contestants

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Spain’s national broadcaster will reveal the Benidorm Fest 2026 contestants by mid-October, with songs set to premiere on December 18th. Eurovision 1999 winner Charlotte Perrelli has submitted a song Spain remains steadfast despite tensions: the contestants of Benidorm Fest 2026 are set to be unveiled within the next two weeks, with the competing songs revealed on December 18th, according to head of the Spanish delegation César Vallejo during a meeting of the OGAE Spain. Although the country has threatened to withdraw from Eurovision over Israel’s participation, Vallejo confirmed that the festival will be held under any circumstance. At the same event, it was confirmed that Charlotte Perrelli, winner of Eurovision 1999 and a current resident of Spain, has submitted a song for the festival. Perrelli returned to the Eurovision stage in 2008 representing Sweden with “Hero”, finishing in 18th place. Since then, she has made three unsuccessful attempts to compete again through Sweden’s Melodifestivalen. 870 Submissions for the 2026...
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Spain: Around 900 Songs Submitted for Benidorm Fest 2026!

Spain: Around 900 Songs Submitted for Benidorm Fest 2026!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 870 songs were submitted to RTVE for Benidorm Fest 2026, which will take place on February 14th RTVE closed on Wednesday the submission window for entries to Benidorm Fest 2026, the Spanish Eurovision pre-selection. According to the national broadcaster, around 900 songs were received, nearly 350 of them within the final 24 hours. This marks a lower number compared to last year, when approximately 1,000 songs were submitted, but still higher than the 825 entries received in 2024. Rising Popularity and Audience Success The overwhelming success of Benidorm Fest 2025 has clearly influenced the interest in the next edition. The number of submissions for Benidorm Fest 2026 remains impressively high due to the competition’s rapidly growing public appeal. The 2025 final, which topped television ratings throughout the week, was a massive success with a 17.1% viewing share and around 1,938,000 viewers. That made it the second most-watched edition in the festival’s history. At peak broadcast moments, nearly 5 million people...
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Is Spain Spreading Lies to Eliminate Israel from Eurovision? Portugal Strikes Back

Is Spain Spreading Lies to Eliminate Israel from Eurovision? Portugal Strikes Back

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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...
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Political Explosion at Eurovision: Did Spanish Pressure Lead to an Early Vote on Israel?

Political Explosion at Eurovision: Did Spanish Pressure Lead to an Early Vote on Israel?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Spanish national broadcaster’s president criticized the EBU and Israel, sparking speculation that Spain’s budgetary and political pressure accelerated the vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 Just hours before the official announcement that the EBU would advance the vote on Israel’s potential exclusion from Eurovision 2026 from December to November, the president of the Spanish national broadcaster RTVE, Jose Pablo Lopez Sanchez, lashed out at the handling of the crisis by the EBU. The question arises whether RTVE’s strong stance contributed to the sudden decision to accelerate the process. Did a clash occur between RTVE and the EBU, fueled also by budgetary concerns, with Spain’s central role in financing the major event influencing the timing of the vote? Appearing yesterday before the Spanish Parliament’s supervisory committee on public broadcasting, Lopez Sanchez openly criticized the EBU and Israel, stating: ""It was time to break the silence within the EBU regarding the genocide in Gaza. The damage that the...
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Spain Will Withdraw From Eurovision 2026 if Israel Participates

Spain Will Withdraw From Eurovision 2026 if Israel Participates

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Spain confirms withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates. Why does Spain matter more than others? Should Israel be scared? The Spanish national broadcaster RTVE has confirmed that Spain will withdraw from Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria, if Israel participates in it. Spain is the fourth country to deliver such statement after Slovenia, Ireland and the Netherlands. The Spanish statement is an important one, that can be a game-changer against Israel. Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun was the first one to suggest that the broadcaster should withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is not disqualified. Urtasun joins his party colleagues in sharp criticism of Israel, including Yolanda Diaz, Minister of Labor and Deputy Prime Minister under Pedro Sanchez, who also declared opposition to Israel’s participation, and Sira Rego, Minister for Children and Youth, who has taken a clear anti-Israel stance on behalf of the Spanish government. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The broadcaster has already submitted its preliminary application for...
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Spain: Benidorm Fest to Be Held Even if the Country Withdraws From Eurovision 2026

Spain: Benidorm Fest to Be Held Even if the Country Withdraws From Eurovision 2026

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Spain confirms Benidorm Fest 2026 will proceed regardless of Eurovision participation. Final decision on joining expected in December amid debates over Israel’s role. The Spanish national broadcaster RTVE has confirmed that the Benidorm Festival will take place regardless of the final decision on whether Spain will participate in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. The broadcaster is reconsidering its presence in Eurovision as long as Israel remains among the participating countries but stressed that the festival has evolved into an independent music brand with its own strong identity. This week, the network announced that it would wait until December to decide whether to remain in the competition, stating that “all options are on the table”. Spanish Foreign Minister Ernest Urtasun suggested that the broadcaster should withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is not disqualified. Urtasun joins his party colleagues in sharp criticism of Israel, including Yolanda Diaz, Minister of Labor and Deputy Prime Minister under Pedro Sanchez, who also...
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Spanish Culture Minister: “Spain Should Not Participate in Eurovision if Israel Competes”

Spanish Culture Minister: “Spain Should Not Participate in Eurovision if Israel Competes”

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Following Slovenia's steps? Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun proposes Spain withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is not disqualified, urging national broadcaster RTVE to follow Slovenia's lead. Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun has urged Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE to withdraw from Eurovision 2026, scheduled to be held in Vienna, Austria, if Israel is not excluded from the competition. Urtasun, a member of the far-left "Sumar" party, joins his party colleagues, Yolanda Diaz, Spain’s Labor Minister and Deputy Prime Minister under Pedro Sanchez, and Sira Rego, Minister of Children and Youth. Prime Minister Sanchez himself expressed strong opposition to Israel’s participation In an interview for La 1, one of RTVE’s channels, Urtasun proposed Spain’s withdrawal from Eurovision 2026 and called on the government to follow Slovenia’s lead: press for Israel’s disqualification, or else withdraw after Spain already confirmed its participation in the contest. Such a move would mark the first-ever withdrawal of Spain from Eurovision in its history. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In the interview Urtasun said: "We have...
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