Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ announces it will withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participates in 2026
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Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ has announced it will withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is permitted to participate, citing grave humanitarian concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In a statement released today, RTÉ said that Ireland’s involvement in the contest would be “unconscionable” given the “appalling loss of lives in Gaza,” the “targeted killing of journalists,” and the “denial of access to international media” in the region. The broadcaster also expressed concern for the plight of hostages still held in Gaza.
The announcement follows discussions at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) General Assembly in July, where several member states raised objections to Israel’s continued participation in the contest. RTÉ confirmed that the EBU has extended the option for countries to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 without penalty until December, pending a final decision on Israel’s inclusion.
RTÉ’s stance aligns with growing calls from artists and broadcasters across Europe to exclude Israel from the competition. In May, over 70 former Eurovision contestants signed an open letter urging the EBU to ban Israel and its broadcaster Kan from the event.
Israel has been a member of the EBU since 1973 and has participated in Eurovision regularly, despite not being geographically part of Europe. Its involvement has often sparked controversy, most notably following its 2018 win, which led to protests and a drop in viewership the following year.
RTÉ stated that a final decision regarding Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU announces its ruling on Israel’s eligibility. The broadcaster emphasised its commitment to journalistic integrity and humanitarian principles in making this decision.
This year, Ireland was represented by Norwegian-born singer Emmy, who won the national selection with her upbeat track Laika Party but failed to qualify for the Grand Final.
Her predecessor, Bambie Thug, made history in 2024 as Ireland’s first openly non-binary Eurovision entrant. Their genre-defying “ouija-pop” anthem Doomsday Blue earned Ireland its best result in over two decades, placing sixth in Malmö and catapulting Bambie into international stardom.
