Ireland will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, and it will not be broadcast by RTÉ, after the European Broadcasting Union confirmed today that Israel will be allowed to take part.
EBU members meeting at the Winter General Assembly in Geneva decided not to call a vote on whether Israel should take part, clearing the way for it to enter the 2026 contest in Vienna. Instead, members overwhelmingly backed a package of new rules intended to discourage governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting entries to sway the result.
A statement from RTÉ said: "Following today's EBU Winter General Assembly in Geneva at which Israel's participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest was confirmed, RTÉ's position remains unchanged. RTÉ will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTÉ broadcast the competition.
"RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk. RTÉ remains deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory."
Following today's decision on Israel, Spain's public broadcaster RTVE has said it will not participate in Eurovision 2026. Spain is one of Eurovision's so-called 'Big Five' countries, the largest financial contributors who qualify automatically for the grand final, so its withdrawal is a significant change to the line-up.
The Netherlands has also confirmed it will also boycott the 2026 contest, with Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS saying it will not take part because of Israel’s inclusion.
Slovenia will also boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel's participation. RTV Slovenia board chairwoman Natalija Gorscak said: "For the third year in a row, the public has demanded that we say no to the participation of any country that attacks another country.
"We must follow European standards for peace and understanding. Eurovision has been a place for joy and happiness from the very beginning, performers and audiences have been united by music, and it should remain that way.
"Our message is: we will not participate in the ESC if Israel is there. On behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza."
Iceland broadcaster RUV said its board would discuss whether it would participate at a meeting next Wednesday after previously agreeing to a motion to recommend Israel be expelled from the contest.
Kan, Israel's public broadcaster, has confirmed it will take part in next May's contest in Vienna.
Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, described the outcome of the rules vote as an "emphatic result by the democratic membership, who have said that they want to protect the neutrality of the competition."
Germany, a major Eurovision backer, had signalled it would not take part if Israel was barred. Germany's culture minister Wolfram Weimer told the Bild newspaper he welcomed the decision.
"Israel belongs to the Eurovision Song Contest like Germany belongs to Europe," he said.
In a statement on X, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said his country "deserves to be represented on every stage around the world".
He added: "I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding.
"Thank you to all our friends who stood up for Israel's right to continue to contribute and compete at Eurovision. This decision demonstrates solidarity, fellowship, and cooperation, and reinforces the spirit of affinity between nations through culture and music."
The competition reforms follow allegations that Israel unfairly boosted support for its entrant at this year’s contest, where it finished second, through a state-backed online advertising campaign and other efforts to drive up televotes. Israel has rejected accusations of improper interference.
Under the revised voting system, an expanded professional jury will again be used at the semi-final stage, with juries and the public each accounting for around half of the overall result. The maximum number of votes any viewer can cast is being cut from 20 to 10, with audiences encouraged to support multiple songs.
The BBC has yet to confirm whether it will participate. A spokesperson said: "We support the collective decision made by members of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union). This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive."
Ireland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, which attracts an audience of around 160 million viewers worldwide, 58 times since 1965, missing only the 1983 and 2002 editions.
Additional reporting: Reuters
