Ireland will not compete in Eurovision 2026
- aussievision
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
Following a vote that allows Israel to compete in Eurovision 2026, Ireland has withdrawn from the Contest.
A press release from the Irish broadcaster RTE stated:
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 Israel's participation, which means Israel will be able 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."