Why Spain, Ireland and Slovenia Won’t Broadcast Eurovision 2026

Spain, Ireland and Slovenia are not refusing to broadcast Eurovision 2026 because of a routine programming dispute. Their public broadcasters are withholding coverage as part of a boycott over Israel’s participation in the contest during the war in Gaza .

The short answer

The immediate reason is Israel’s continued eligibility for Eurovision 2026. RTÉ reported that Ireland’s RTÉ and public service broadcasters in Slovenia and Spain will not show the contest as they boycott the event over Israel’s participation . RTÉ also reported that five countries—Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain—are boycotting the contest over Israel’s war in Gaza .

The boycott follows earlier decisions by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia not to participate after Eurovision organizers cleared the way for Israel to compete in 2026 . IBC likewise reported that Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia pulled out after the European Broadcasting Union’s organizers decided Israel could compete .

Who is making the decision?

Headlines often refer to Spain, Ireland and Slovenia, but the operative decisions are being made by public broadcasters. RTÉ reported that Ireland’s RTÉ and the public service broadcasters in Slovenia and Spain would not show Eurovision as part of the boycott . Catalan News reported that Spain’s RTVE would not participate in or broadcast Eurovision 2026 after the EBU confirmed Israel’s entry . Euronews reported that RTV Slovenia confirmed it would not air the contest .

That distinction matters: the Eurovision boycott is being implemented through national broadcasters’ participation and broadcast choices, not through a cancellation of the entire competition. AFP reporting carried by Ahram described the contest as continuing in Vienna while Spain, Ireland and Slovenia refused to show it .

What each broadcaster is doing

• Ireland: RTÉ is among the public broadcasters not showing the contest as part of the boycott over Israel’s participation .
• Spain: RTVE has said it will not participate in or broadcast Eurovision 2026 after Israel’s entry was confirmed; reporting also says RTVE cited a lack of trust in the event and alleged political pressure at the EBU .
• Slovenia: RTV Slovenia has said it will not broadcast Eurovision and will air Palestine-themed programming instead . RTÉ reported that Slovenian broadcaster RTV said its schedule would feature the programme series Voices of Palestine instead of Eurovision coverage .
• The wider boycott: RTÉ identified Iceland and the Netherlands alongside Ireland, Slovenia and Spain as the five countries boycotting Eurovision over Israel’s war in Gaza . Earlier reports had named Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia among the countries withdrawing after Israel was cleared to compete .

Why Israel’s participation became the flashpoint

The common objection across the reports is that Israel is being allowed to compete while the war in Gaza and its humanitarian consequences remain central public controversies. ABC News reported that state broadcasters in the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia cited the ongoing war in Gaza as their reason for not taking part . IBC reported that the withdrawals were due to concerns about Israel’s participation, which some countries opposed because of Israel’s conduct in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza .

Some broadcasters have also raised process concerns around Eurovision itself. Saudi Gazette reported that countries calling for Israel’s exclusion cited the war in Gaza as well as accusations of unfair voting practices, and that Spain’s RTVE said a denied request for a secret ballot increased its distrust of the festival’s organization . Catalan News similarly reported that RTVE cited a lack of trust and denounced alleged political pressures at the EBU .

Still, the central reason given across the main reports is not the voting controversy alone. It is the broadcasters’ opposition to Israel competing while the Gaza war continues .

What the EBU did

The European Broadcasting Union did not remove Israel from Eurovision 2026. The Independent reported that EBU members decided not to call a vote on Israel’s participation, which cleared the way for Israel to participate . IBC described the boycott as following organizers’ decision that Israel could compete .

That decision was the turning point for the broadcasters that had warned they would not compete alongside Israel. After Israel remained eligible, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia announced they would not participate, according to The Independent . Later reporting from RTÉ described the broader boycott as including five countries, with Iceland added to the list .

What viewers should understand

For viewers in Ireland, Spain and Slovenia, the practical effect is that public broadcaster Eurovision coverage is being withheld . In Slovenia, the absence of Eurovision coverage is being replaced with Palestine-focused programming .

For Eurovision as a whole, the reports describe a boycott and broadcast refusal, not the cancellation of the event. The contest is continuing with Israel allowed to participate, while several broadcasters have decided that carrying or joining the event would be unacceptable under the current circumstances .