RTÉ has announced that it will neither participate in nor broadcast the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, following confirmation from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that Israel will be permitted to compete.
The EBU reached its decision at a meeting in Geneva today, where the majority of members ruled that no formal vote on Israel’s participation was required.
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RTÉ, along with public broadcasters from Slovenia, Spain, and the Netherlands, had previously stated they would boycott the contest – set to take place in Vienna in May 2026 – if Israel was allowed to take part, citing the ongoing war in Gaza.
In response, Germany and other countries supporting Israel’s inclusion had warned of serious repercussions if the four-time Eurovision winner was excluded.
The decision comes amid lingering controversy over Israel’s strong second-place finish in this year’s contest, with several broadcasters accusing Israel of unfair voting tactics, including a paid promotional campaign. Israel has firmly rejected the allegations, describing them as part of a coordinated global smear campaign.
Last month, the EBU introduced reforms to the voting system aimed at enhancing “trust and transparency.” These changes – which include reducing the maximum number of votes per viewer from 20 to 10 and encouraging support for multiple entries – were overwhelmingly approved at today’s meeting.
Ireland has taken part in Eurovision 58 times since 1965, winning a record seven times and only sitting out the 1983 and 2002 editions. The contest regularly attracts around 160 million viewers worldwide.
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