Spain has announced its withdrawal from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a video message on Friday that Spain cannot remain silent in the face of what he described as genocide in Gaza and an illegal war in Lebanon. He emphasized that the decision reflects Spain’s commitment to human rights and international law.

Sánchez described the move by Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE to skip the contest as consistent and necessary, stating that it was taken to stand against injustice. He argued that the same principle used to exclude Russia after the Ukraine war should apply to Israel, insisting there should be no double standards. According to Sánchez, Eurovision symbolizes peace, unity, and Europe’s diversity, but silence in the face of war and atrocities is not an option.

He added that several other countries, including Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, have taken similar positions. The 2026 Eurovision contest began on May 12, with the grand final scheduled for Saturday.