- February 25, 2026
- 7:13 pm
- World News
Spain has initiated a discussion on changing the rules of the Eurovision contest, proposing to exclude countries involved in armed conflicts from participation. This specifically concerns Ukraine and Israel, which have already confirmed their participation in Eurovision 2026.
The statement came amid ongoing discussions about the politicization of the music contest and the role of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Madrid’s Initiative: Revising the EBU Statute
Statement from RTVE Management
The president of the Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, José Pablo López, stated the need to “once and for all” start a serious discussion on reforming the statute of the European Broadcasting Union.
According to him, in the coming weeks, the issue of excluding countries involved in armed conflicts from the contest may be brought up for discussion. The goal, as claimed by the Spanish side, is the depoliticization of Eurovision.
Formally, the initiative is presented as an attempt to restore the contest’s purely cultural and musical character. However, in practical terms, this proposal directly affects Ukraine and Israel.
Ukraine and Israel have already confirmed participation
Despite Madrid’s statements, Israel has officially confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026. The country will be represented by singer Noam Bettan. Ukraine also retains its status as a contest participant.
Thus, Spain’s proposal currently has no legal force and requires EBU approval.
In the analytical context, NAnews —Israel News | Nikk.Agency views Madrid’s initiative as part of a broader European discussion on the boundary between culture and politics amid ongoing international conflicts.
A new wave of disputes around the contest
Politics and music: where is the boundary
In recent years, Eurovision has regularly been at the center of political discussions. After the 2025 contest, the issue of Israel’s participation was again discussed within the EBU. Ultimately, the country was allowed to perform, which drew criticism from several broadcasters.
In response, Spain announced its withdrawal from participation and broadcasting of the show. Similar decisions were made by broadcasters from the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland.
In fact, this is an attempt to reconsider the fundamental principle of the contest — the participation of national broadcasters regardless of the political situation in their countries.
Possible consequences for Eurovision 2026
If Spain’s initiative gains support, it could lead to structural changes in the contest’s rules and create a precedent for future restrictions.
At the same time, many experts note that such a step will inevitably increase the political component around Eurovision, rather than reduce it.
At the moment, there are no final decisions. The discussion on the EBU statute reform is expected in the coming weeks. Until then, Ukraine and Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 remains confirmed.
