Ireland will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, and it will not be broadcast by RTÉ, after the European Broadcasting Union confirmed today that Israel will be allowed to take part.
EBU members meeting at the Winter General Assembly in Geneva decided not to call a vote on Israel's participation, which means Israel will be able to enter the 2026 contest in Vienna. Instead, members overwhelmingly backed a package of new rules intended to discourage governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting entries to sway the result.
A statement from RTÉ said: "Following today's EBU Winter General Assembly in Geneva at which Israel's participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest was confirmed, RTÉ's position remains unchanged. RTÉ will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTÉ broadcast the competition.
"RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk. RTÉ remains deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory."
Following today's decision on Israel, the Netherlands confirmed it will boycott the 2026 contest, with Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS also saying it will not take part because of Israel’s inclusion.
Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has also said it will not participate in Eurovision 2026.
Kan, Israel's public broadcaster, has confirmed it will take part in the song contest in Vienna next May.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said his country "deserves to be represented on every stage around the world", following the announcement Thursday that it can take part in next year's Eurovision Song Contest.
"I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding," Herzog said on X.
"Thank you to all our friends who stood up for Israel's right to continue to contribute and compete at Eurovision. This decision demonstrates solidarity, fellowship, and cooperation, and reinforces the spirit of affinity between nations through culture and music."
The competition reforms follow allegations that Israel unfairly boosted support for its entrant at this year’s contest, where it finished second, through a state-backed online advertising campaign and other efforts to drive up televotes. Israel has rejected accusations of improper interference.
Under the revised voting system, an expanded professional jury will again be used at the semi-final stage, with juries and the public each accounting for around half of the overall result, while the maximum number of votes any viewer can cast is being cut from 20 to 10, with audiences encouraged to support multiple songs.
Ireland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, which attracts an audience of around 160 million viewers worldwide, 58 times since 1965, missing only the 1983 and 2002 editions.
Additional reporting: Reuters
