Spain’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 remains uncertain after the president of national broadcaster RTVE, José Pablo López, announced that he would recommend extending the country’s boycott for a second consecutive year.
Speaking before a parliamentary oversight committee on 22 September, López confirmed his intention to ask RTVE’s Board of Directors to maintain Spain’s withdrawal from the competition, which will take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, in May 2027.
The announcement follows Spain’s absence from Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, when the broadcaster joined several other European countries in protesting Israel’s continued participation.
Why Does Spain Want to Remain Outside Eurovision?
RTVE has been among the most vocal broadcasters calling for changes within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), particularly regarding political neutrality, voting transparency and the influence of external organisations on the competition.
López acknowledged that negotiations with the EBU had resulted in several improvements to Eurovision’s rules and governance. However, he argued that these measures did not adequately address the broadcaster’s ethical concerns surrounding the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The RTVE president described the continued participation of Israeli public broadcaster KAN as deeply painful and maintained that Spain should remain outside the contest while these concerns persist.
EBU Responds to Spain’s Position
The European Broadcasting Union responded on the same day, expressing disappointment over the possibility of Spain missing another Eurovision edition.
Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green explained that organisers had listened to concerns raised by participating broadcasters and introduced significant changes to the competition.
These reforms include stronger safeguards against external influence, tighter voting restrictions, the return of professional juries to the semi-finals and broader jury representation.
Nevertheless, the EBU acknowledged RTVE’s position and confirmed that it would respect the broadcaster’s internal decision-making process.
What Happens Next for Spain?
Importantly, Spain’s withdrawal from Eurovision 2027 has not yet been formally confirmed by RTVE’s Board of Directors. López’s announcement represents a recommendation rather than a final institutional decision.
Spain has participated in Eurovision since 1961 and is traditionally one of the contest’s Big Five contributors, alongside France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
A second consecutive absence would therefore be particularly significant for the competition, both culturally and organisationally.
Meanwhile, preparations for Benidorm Fest 2027 are continuing independently, with the Spanish music competition scheduled for January.
Whether Spain will ultimately return to the Eurovision stage in Burgas remains to be seen, but the broadcaster’s latest statements suggest that a comeback is far from guaranteed.