Several countries have pulled out of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest after Israel’s participation was confirmed.
Ireland, The Netherlands and Spain have announced they will boycott the singing competition after a vote on Thursday at the general assembly in Geneva on whether Israel should be included.
Irish national broadcaster RTE said it will not broadcast or take part in the song contest, describing its participation as “unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza”.
The RTE statement said: “Following today’s EBU winter general assembly in Geneva at which Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest was confirmed, RTE’s position remains unchanged.
“RTE will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTE broadcast the competition.
“RTE 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.
“RTE 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.”
The 2026 contest will be held in Vienna after Austria’s act JJ won the 2025 event with his song Wasted Love.
In September, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia threatened to withdraw unless Israel was excluded over the war in Gaza.
Russia was banned from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but Israel has continued to compete for the past couple of years despite disputes.
Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated against Israel’s inclusion near a free concert in the centre of Basel when the 2025 competition took place.
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