Spain has announced it will withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel takes part, following a vote by the board of state broadcaster RTVE this September 16. Spain becomes the fifth country to issue such a pledge, after the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland, and Ireland, and the first among Eurovision’s influential “Big Five,” which also includes the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and France. The contest is scheduled to be held in Vienna, Austria, next May.
The Eurovision Song Contest is intended to be apolitical, but Europe's relations are often exposed on the Eurovision stage. Allied countries tend to vote for each other, rival countries give the cold shoulder, and some subliminal messages always seem to slip in to someone's lyrics.
With the controversy surrounding Israel's participation, it's the perfect time to revisit Eurovision's most memorable (and controversial) moments over the years. Click on for the juiciest drama Eurovision has served decade after decade.