Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain will withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, citing the country’s commitment to human rights and international law. In a public video statement, he criticized the European Broadcasting Union for allowing Israel to participate, accusing Israel of genocide and describing Spain’s absence as a stand against injustice.

Sánchez argued that the competition’s organizers had applied a double standard, pointing to Russia’s removal from the contest after its invasion of Ukraine. He said the same principles should be applied to Israel, adding that silence was not an option in the face of what he called an illegal war in Gaza and Lebanon.

He noted that Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia would also boycott the event. However, the decision has sparked backlash within Spain, where the conservative opposition accused Sánchez of hypocrisy and political opportunism, questioning why Spain would boycott the music contest while still allowing its athletes to compete in international sporting events alongside Israel.