RTE Confirms Eurovision Boycott as Ireland Joins Growing List of Withdrawals Over Israel
RTE has confirmed it will not participate in or broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, joining Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia in what has become the largest boycott in the competition's history since 1970 — all in protest at Israel's continued participation despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Ireland's national broadcaster announced its withdrawal after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed Israel's participation in the contest, which is scheduled to take place in Vienna, Austria. RTE cited deep concerns about the humanitarian crisis and the appalling loss of lives in Gaza, as well as the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory as factors that made participation untenable.
Background
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the world's longest-running and most-watched television events, broadcast annually since 1956 and attracting audiences of hundreds of millions across Europe and beyond. The contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Union, a membership organisation of public broadcasters, and has traditionally maintained a strict policy of political neutrality — a position that has come under increasing strain in recent years as geopolitical tensions have intersected with the competition's global profile.
Israel has participated in Eurovision since 1973 and has won the contest four times, most recently in 2018. The country's participation has been a source of controversy in recent years, with protests at venues and calls for exclusion from some broadcasters and artists. The EBU has consistently maintained that Eurovision is a cultural, not a political, event, and has resisted calls to exclude Israel on the grounds that doing so would set a precedent that could be used to exclude other countries for political reasons.
Ireland holds the record for the most Eurovision victories, having won the contest seven times — including three consecutive wins from 1992 to 1994. The decision to withdraw marks a significant moment for RTE and for Irish cultural life, reflecting the depth of public feeling in Ireland about the conflict in Gaza. The National Union of Journalists and the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign have both welcomed the boycott, with the NUJ citing the killing of journalists in Gaza as a particular concern for its members.
Key Developments
The withdrawals of Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia represent the largest boycott in Eurovision's history since 1970. Spain's withdrawal is particularly significant, as RTVE is one of the Big Five countries — a major financial contributor to the contest. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS stated that participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation, while Slovenia's RTV said the decision was made on behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza.
Iceland is also considering its position, with its broadcaster RUV scheduled to discuss the matter after its board previously recommended Israel's expulsion from the contest. The growing number of withdrawals raises questions about the long-term future of the competition and the EBU's ability to maintain its claim to political neutrality in an era of intense geopolitical conflict.
The EBU's decision to allow Israel to compete was made at its Winter General Assembly in Geneva. Rather than holding a vote on Israel's exclusion, members backed a package of new rules designed to prevent external parties from disproportionately influencing entries and results. EBU director Martin Green described the outcome as an emphatic result by the democratic membership, who have said that they want to protect the neutrality of the competition. Israel's public broadcaster Kan confirmed its participation, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his country's right to be represented globally.
Why It Matters
The Eurovision boycott reflects a broader debate about the responsibilities of public broadcasters and cultural institutions in the face of humanitarian crises. For RTE, the decision to withdraw is not taken lightly — Eurovision is one of the most-watched events in the Irish broadcasting calendar, and the competition has deep cultural roots in Ireland. But the broadcaster's statement makes clear that it regards the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and particularly the targeting of journalists, as incompatible with participation in a competition that claims to celebrate culture, music, and cross-border understanding. The boycott also reflects the strength of public opinion in Ireland on the conflict in Gaza, where polling has consistently shown high levels of concern about the humanitarian situation and strong support for a ceasefire.
Local Impact
For Irish viewers, the Eurovision boycott means that the 70th anniversary contest in Vienna will not be broadcast on RTE — a significant change for a competition that has been a fixture of Irish television for decades. Irish Eurovision fans will need to seek out alternative broadcasts, while the absence of an Irish entry removes one of the most anticipated elements of the competition for many viewers. The decision has been broadly welcomed by Irish civil society organisations, trade unions, and political parties across the spectrum, reflecting a national consensus that the humanitarian situation in Gaza demands a response from cultural institutions as well as governments. The boycott also puts pressure on other European broadcasters to reconsider their own participation, and may yet prompt further withdrawals before the contest takes place.
What's Next
The 70th anniversary Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna is expected to be overshadowed by protests and political controversy. The growing number of withdrawals raises questions about the long-term future of the competition and the EBU's ability to maintain its claim to political neutrality. Read RTE's full statement at RTE and further coverage at BBC News.
