Ireland will not take part in Eurovision if Israel participates, RTE announces

Ireland will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 if Israel participates, broadcaster RTE has announced.

The Irish broadcaster said a final decision on participation would be made when the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) makes its decision.

But it added that Ireland’s participation would be “unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza”.

A spokesperson for Eurovision said it was up to each state to decide if it wanted to take part in the contest.

An RTE statement said that at the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union in July, “a number of EBU members raised concerns about the participation of Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest”.

It added: “RTE wishes to thank the EBU for the extensive consultation process that was initiated on foot of that meeting, and the extension of the option to withdraw from participation without penalty to December.

“It is RTE’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU’s decision is made.”

The statement added: “RTE feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza.

“RTE is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, and the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”

Irish Culture Minister Patrick O’Donovan said officials in his department engaged with RTE about the matter last week.

However, he emphasised that the decision by RTE’s director general was made in conjunction with its executive and board and “independent of any outside influences”.

Speaking on RTE radio, he said: “I fully understand where RTE coming from. I think everybody is hoping to see it in city, absolutely devastating scenes that we are witnessing on our televisions every night, and there’s a release of the hostage and we can get to a situation where humanitarian aid is allowed in to Gaza.”

He added: “The decision by RTE is an independent decision – they have editorial independence. I respect their decision.”

Meanwhile, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers also said he supports and respects RTE’s decision.

“I think we’ve all been shocked over the summer to see the innocent killing of journalists who are providing objective information to the world about the genocide in Gaza and Israel’s activities and I absolutely respect RTE’s decision.”

Eurovision director Martin Green said: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“We are still consulting with all EBU members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Eurovision Song Contest.

“Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year’s event in Vienna.

“It is up to each member to decide if they want to take part in the contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.”

Ireland has won Eurovision seven times, the joint most of any country along with Sweden. Its last win was in 1996.

The 70th anniversary edition of the contest is due to take place in Vienna, Austria, in May after Austrian entry JJ won with his song Wasted Love in Basel, Switzerland, earlier this year.

Ireland was represented by Emmy in Basel, with the song Laika Party.

There has been growing controversy about Israel’s participation in Eurovision with protests in host cities in the last two years.