Spain threatens Eurovision boycott over Israel's participation
TOI World Desk | TOI Global Desk | Sep 16, 2025, 21:50 IST
Spain has threatened to boycott the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates, citing the war in Gaza. The Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia have already taken similar steps, mounting pressure on organizers. The European Broadcasting Union is seeking advice from its members and will decide by mid-December whether Israel can still participate.
Spain said on Tuesday that it will not participate in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, if Israel gets to compete due to calls being made by countries urging for its exclusion because of an ongoing war taking place between Gaza Strip.
The Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia had already said they would boycott the event. The addition of Spain only turns up the heat on Israel as well and — by extension — the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the public authority's board in Madrid. The announcment comes after weeks of increased Spanish-political and cultural tension with Israel that burst onto the front pages in demonstrations during this month's Vuelta cycling race. The protests directed against an Israeli-owned cycling team were another blow to Spain's poor relations with Israel during the recent fighting in Gaza.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Monday that he agreed to prevent Israel from attending international sports tournaments, which strengthened diplomatic demands. His comments come as public demonstrations persist, and underscore the tougher line being taken by Spain's Government.
The EBU, which includes 70 broadcasters across Europe and beyond, acknowledged last week that it is weighing member concerns about “geopolitical tensions” surrounding the contest. The organization gave broadcasters until mid-December to confirm their participation and emphasized that it seeks to maintain Eurovision as a “nonpolitical cultural event.”
It echoes the 2022 Eurovision ban on Russia after it invaded Ukraine. That has irked other EU states, some of which have accused Israel over a number of controversies the country would not normally get away with as an EU free-to-air weekly competitor.
Eurovision, the globe's most-watched televised music competition, has a plan to host its finale in Vienna in May of 2025. Organizers have yet to decide if Israel will be included.
Observers point out that the expanding boycott campaign may redefine the political dynamics of Eurovision. "Adding Spain makes the challenge for the EBU more significant," said Eurovision commentator William Lee Adams of Wiwibloggs. "If a number of big countries opt out, there becomes a question as to the contest's potential to stay united."
Spain and its friends wait in the meantime for the EBU to act, which may not just decide whether Israel competes but also how much global support there is for Eurovision's tradition of cultural exchange in the face of continuing political tension.
The Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia had already said they would boycott the event. The addition of Spain only turns up the heat on Israel as well and — by extension — the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the public authority's board in Madrid. The announcment comes after weeks of increased Spanish-political and cultural tension with Israel that burst onto the front pages in demonstrations during this month's Vuelta cycling race. The protests directed against an Israeli-owned cycling team were another blow to Spain's poor relations with Israel during the recent fighting in Gaza.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Monday that he agreed to prevent Israel from attending international sports tournaments, which strengthened diplomatic demands. His comments come as public demonstrations persist, and underscore the tougher line being taken by Spain's Government.
The EBU, which includes 70 broadcasters across Europe and beyond, acknowledged last week that it is weighing member concerns about “geopolitical tensions” surrounding the contest. The organization gave broadcasters until mid-December to confirm their participation and emphasized that it seeks to maintain Eurovision as a “nonpolitical cultural event.”
It echoes the 2022 Eurovision ban on Russia after it invaded Ukraine. That has irked other EU states, some of which have accused Israel over a number of controversies the country would not normally get away with as an EU free-to-air weekly competitor.
Eurovision, the globe's most-watched televised music competition, has a plan to host its finale in Vienna in May of 2025. Organizers have yet to decide if Israel will be included.
Observers point out that the expanding boycott campaign may redefine the political dynamics of Eurovision. "Adding Spain makes the challenge for the EBU more significant," said Eurovision commentator William Lee Adams of Wiwibloggs. "If a number of big countries opt out, there becomes a question as to the contest's potential to stay united."
Spain and its friends wait in the meantime for the EBU to act, which may not just decide whether Israel competes but also how much global support there is for Eurovision's tradition of cultural exchange in the face of continuing political tension.