Spain Proposes Eurovision 2027 Boycott Over Israel Participation

Jose Pablo Lopez, President of Spain's public broadcaster RTVE, has proposed that Spain withdraw from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas, Bulgaria. If approved by the RTVE Board of Directors in mid-October, this would mark Spain's second consecutive absence after boycotting the 2026 contest in Vienna.

Jose Pablo Lopez cited the continued participation of Israel's public broadcaster during the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the primary driver for the proposal. He stated that RTVE pressured the European Broadcasting Union for stricter governance and ethical regeneration to prevent political manipulation, but noted that these objectives were not fully achieved.

Spain is one of the Big Five financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union. The proposed withdrawal follows confirmed boycotts from Ireland and the Netherlands for the 2027 event. Ireland's broadcaster, RTÉ, stated that participation cannot be justified given the loss of lives and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.