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13-09-2025
DUBLIN: The Irish broadcaster, RTE, has said it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest “if the participation of Israel goes ahead”.
In a statement, RTE said that Ireland’s participation in the event “would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza”.
Ireland has won the contest seven times in total, most recently in 1996.
RTE will make a final decision once the Eurovision organizers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), makes its decision.
Next year’s contest will be held in May in Vienna.
Slovenia’s national broadcaster, RTVSLO, has also said it will withdraw from the competition if Israel participates.
Spain’s Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun has said that his country may also not take part should Israel participate.
Stefan Eiriksson from Iceland’s national broadcaster RUV said its involvement in the 2026 contest was “subject to the outcome of the ongoing consultation process within the EBU, due to the participation of the Israeli state broadcaster KAN in the competition”.
Eiriksson added that RUV “reserve the right to withdraw from participation in it if the EBU does not respond satisfactorily”.
In a statement on Thursday, RTE said; “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”. It added; “RTE is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”
Martin Green CBE, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said the EBU “understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East”. He added; “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.”
Prior to this year’s Eurovision in May, RTE asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest.
At that time, its director general, Kevin Bakhurst, said he was “appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages”.
He added that he was mindful of RTE’s obligations to maintain objectivity in covering the war in Gaza. “We are also very mindful of the severe political pressure on Israel’s public service broadcaster, Kan, from the Israeli government,” he said.
Earlier this year, more than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling on the organizers to ban Israel from the 2025 competition.
Israel’s success in the public vote at last weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest has prompted calls from a string of countries to examine the results and voting system.
Singer Yuval Raphael came top of the viewer vote on Saturday with her ballad New Day Will Rise, but finished second overall to Austria when jury scores were also taken into account.
Broadcasters in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Iceland and Finland have since raised concerns or questions about the public vote, with some requesting an audit. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
