DUBLIN — Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ announced on Thursday that it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is permitted to participate, calling such participation “unconscionable” given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The broadcaster said the decision reflects concern at the “ongoing and appalling loss of lives” and at reported attacks affecting journalists and restrictions on media access.
RTÉ made the declaration in a formal statement as tensions over Israel’s possible inclusion in next year’s contest have escalated across the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) membership. The statement said RTÉ’s position is that Ireland’s participation would be incompatible with its public-service values if Israel’s entry goes ahead, and that the broadcaster is awaiting further guidance from the EBU before finalising any final administrative steps.
The move by Ireland adds to a growing wave of broadcasters publicly signalling they may withdraw or refuse to participate if Israel is allowed to compete. Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS said it would not take part in 2026 if Israel is present, and other national broadcasters — including some in central and northern Europe — have voiced reservations or called for the EBU to review the situation. The EBU has acknowledged the controversy and said it is consulting with members about how to manage the political and safety concerns.
RTÉ’s announcement references not only civilian casualties in Gaza but also the deaths of journalists and restrictions on international reporting as part of the justification for its stance. Those issues have driven mounting pressure on the EBU from member broadcasters, artists and rights groups to reconsider whether Israel should be permitted to participate while the conflict continues. Some governments and cultural figures have framed the dispute as a broader question about whether cultural events should proceed unchanged amid severe humanitarian crises.
The controversy follows months in which Eurovision — historically presented as an apolitical entertainment event — has been drawn into geopolitical disputes. In recent years, debates over hosting, location and the eligibility of contestants have occasionally flared into public disputes; organisers say the contest’s rules aim to separate cultural competition from politics, but critics argue that extreme conflicts and allegations of human-rights violations create unavoidable moral dilemmas for public broadcasters.
Within Ireland, the broadcaster’s stance has drawn support from a number of former Irish Eurovision performers and figures in the music community, several of whom publicly backed RTÉ’s position in interviews and commentary. RTÉ carried coverage of those responses and said the broadcaster had taken their views into account while assessing what it described as a matter of conscience.
What happens next rests largely with the EBU and its members. The organisation is expected to continue consultations and said it will consider the legal, logistical and safety implications of any decision on participation. If the EBU allows Israel to enter and multiple public broadcasters follow through on boycott pledges, the 2026 contest could face an unprecedented political split that would complicate both the competition and its extensive international broadcast arrangements.
The Irish government has previously taken diplomatic and legal steps related to the conflict in Gaza, including joining international legal action earlier this year. RTÉ’s announcement on Eurovision is likely to add a cultural dimension to Dublin’s broader scrutiny of Israel’s conduct, and it underscores how cultural events have become another forum for international pressure and protest.
The EBU has not yet made a final ruling on Israel’s status for 2026. RTÉ said it will continue to monitor the EBU process and will make any further decisions in line with its public-service responsibilities. Meanwhile, broadcasters, artists and viewers across Europe are watching closely to see whether Eurovision’s century-old promise of bringing countries together will survive the current geopolitical strains.
