Canary Islands will not host 2026 Vuelta if Israel-Premier Tech participate

The Vuelta a España’s rumoured 2026 finale on the Canary Islands risks falling apart in the wake of the outpouring of protest at Israel-Premier Tech’s participation in this year’s race.

The final stage of the 2025 Vuelta was abandoned in Madrid on Sunday due to a human rights demonstration against Israel’s ongoing invasion of Gaza. On Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for Israel to be barred from international sports competition. Over 64,000 people, the vast majority of them civilians, have been killed since Israel invaded Gaza almost two years ago in response to the October 7 terrorist attacks, which killed more than 1,200 people.

Sánchez's words were echoed by Antonio Morales, the head of the local council of Gran Canaria. Morales said on Monday that his island would not host the Vuelta if Israel-Premier Tech are among the competing teams.

“I have to say with absolute conviction that if Israel is participating, then no. Gran Canaria is not willing to whitewash genocide and Israel’s actions through sport or any other means,” Morales said, according to AS. “We will see what happens in the coming months, but of course, with Israel’s participation, Gran Canaria will not host the Vuelta a España.” 

As a member of the UCI WorldTour, Israel-Premier Tech qualify for the Vuelta automatically. The Vuelta organisation repeatedly stated during this year’s race that it was legally unable to exclude Israel-Premier Tech from its event.

Following the premature end to stage 11 amid protests in Bilbao, Vuelta technical director Kiko García indicated a preference for Israel-Premier Tech to withdraw from the race in order to safeguard the security of the peloton.

Israel-Premier Tech owner Sylvan Adams rejected the request, though the team later removed its name from its kit for the remainder of the Vuelta.

The route of the 2026 Vuelta is expected to be unveiled in December or January, but it has long been reported that the Canary Islands are in line to host the final four days of the race. It is rumoured that the Vuelta would feature two stages in Gran Canaria, including a climb to Pico de las Nieves, and two stages in Tenerife, including a dramatic grand finale on Mount Teide.

According to Tenerife Weekly, Morales said that while there is a pre-agreement between the Canary Islands and Vuelta organiser Unipublic, “nothing is definitively signed.”

El País reported on Monday that the Vuelta organiser risks missing out on the €400,000 it was due to receive from local authorities in Madrid for the 2025 finale after stage 21 was abandoned with 58km still to race.

The traditional podium ceremony on Plaza Cibeles was also cancelled, with winner Jonas Vingegaard feted in impromptu fashion in the car park of the Visma | Lease a Bike hotel on Sunday evening.