The president of Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE, José Pablo López, has proposed that Spain remain outside the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 because Israel is set to participate.

López made the proposal on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, during his appearance before the parliamentary commission overseeing RTVE. The proposal must still be considered and approved by the broadcaster’s Board of Directors before it becomes a final decision.

Spain Could Miss Eurovision for a Second Consecutive Year

Spain did not participate in Eurovision 2026 after RTVE decided to withdraw when Israel remained in the competition.

The decision was originally approved by the RTVE Board in September 2025, with the broadcaster also deciding that it would not televise the contest if Israel participated. When the European Broadcasting Union subsequently allowed Israel to compete in Vienna, Spain followed through with the withdrawal.

A continuation into 2027 would therefore mean Spain misses the Eurovision Song Contest for a second consecutive year.

López Says the Main Condition Has Not Been Met

During Tuesday’s parliamentary appearance, López said RTVE had been examining whether developments within the Eurovision organisation were sufficient to allow Spain to return.

He said some changes had been made, including measures concerning the organisation and governance of the contest, but argued that the main condition behind Spain’s earlier withdrawal had not changed because Israel remains eligible to compete.

López also referred to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and said it remained painful for RTVE to participate while Israel's public broadcaster remained part of the competition. These are López’s stated reasons for proposing that Spain remain outside the contest.

The Final Decision Has Not Yet Been Made

The proposal from RTVE’s president does not itself withdraw Spain from Eurovision 2027.

The final decision rests with the RTVE Board of Directors. López said the board will ultimately determine whether Spain participates.

That distinction is important because the broadcaster had postponed its earlier discussion on 2027 participation in September. The board had been considering whether to return after the 2026 withdrawal or continue staying out.

Israel Has Confirmed Its 2027 Participation

Israel's public broadcaster KAN confirmed in July that it intends to participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria.

KAN is again working with Keshet 12 on the country's selection process, with the Israeli representative to be chosen through the television competition HaKokhav HaBa, also known as The Rising Star.

Israel's participation is therefore the central issue cited by RTVE in considering whether Spain should remain outside the contest.

Eurovision 2027 Will Be Held in Bulgaria

The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, following Bulgaria’s DARA winning the 2026 competition in Vienna with “Bangaranga.”

The European Broadcasting Union has confirmed Arena Burgas as the main venue. The two semi-finals are scheduled for 11 and 13 May 2027, with the Grand Final on 15 May.

Changes Have Been Made to Eurovision Rules

The debate comes after the EBU introduced changes intended to strengthen the contest’s neutrality, transparency and voting safeguards.

For the 2026 competition, the EBU introduced stricter limits on third-party promotion, including campaigns supported by governments, reduced the maximum number of audience votes and strengthened measures against coordinated or fraudulent voting. EBU members approved the package in December 2025 without holding a separate vote on Israel’s participation.

The EBU has continued to defend those reforms as measures designed to protect the contest’s neutrality and integrity.

Other Broadcasters Have Also Withdrawn

Spain is not the only broadcaster considering or maintaining a withdrawal over Israel's participation.

Ireland has already confirmed it will not take part in Eurovision 2027, while Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced in August that it would not participate. The Dutch decision has subsequently been passed back to the Netherlands' umbrella public broadcaster NPO for consideration of how the country's participation is handled.

Several other broadcasters that stayed out of Eurovision 2026 have not yet reached the same final decision for 2027.

Spain's Decision Is Still Pending

For now, Spain has not formally withdrawn from Eurovision 2027.

The current position is that José Pablo López is proposing that RTVE continue its absence, while the Board of Directors must make the final decision.

With Israel having already confirmed its intention to compete and Eurovision 2027 scheduled for Burgas in May, the RTVE board's forthcoming decision will determine whether Spain returns to the contest after a one-year absence or remains outside it for a second consecutive edition.