Eurovision Faces Broadcaster Exodus as Ireland Cites Gaza Concerns
Ireland will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, and will not broadcast the event, following the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) decision to allow israel’s continued participation. The move, announced on Thursday, has sparked a wave of debate and prompted other European broadcasters to reconsider their involvement in the popular music competition.
Growing Dissatisfaction with EBU Decision
The Irish broadcaster, RTÉ, stated that its participation in the contest “remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there.” RTÉ also expressed “deep concern” over the “targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory.”
Ireland is not alone in its stance. Broadcasters in Slovenia, Spain, and The Netherlands have also announced their withdrawal from the competition. Iceland’s broadcaster, RUV, will review its position on Wednesday, while Belgium is expected to announce its decision in the coming days.
Support and Criticism of RTÉ’s Decision
The decision by RTÉ has been met with mixed reactions. Campaign groups have largely welcomed the move, with the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign posting online, “Well done RTÉ.” The group’s chairperson, Zoe Lawlor, stated, “We very much welcome RTÉ standing firm in their decision and reiterating that they will neither participate in Eurovision 2026 nor broadcast it.” The campaign had been advocating for a boycott of the event for two years.
However, the decision has also drawn criticism. A former minister for justice condemned the move as an “international embarrassment,” arguing it woudl “deny Irish artists of the career boosting possibility to compete and the Irish public of both the enjoyment of our doing so and voting for their preferred song.”
Journalists and Eurovision winners Voice Support
The Dublin Broadcasting branch of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) also voiced its support for RTÉ’s decision, stating it was “unconscionable” to participate given the situation in Gaza, including the “targeted killing of journalists” and Israel’s restrictions on media access. The union’s Dublin branch chairwoman, Emma O Kelly, described the EBU’s decision to allow Israel to remain in the competition as “indefensible,” questioning how a broadcasters’ union could “continue to support a state that literally targets and kills broadcasters.”
Adding to the chorus of support, Charles Joseph McGettigan, who won the contest in 1994 with Paul Harrington, said he was “delighted” with RTÉ’s decision. “They did withdraw from the competition earlier this year, and now, at a crucial point in time, they’ve decided we don’t want to enter a competition that Israel is involved in,” he explained. “It’s particularly as at the moment journalists can’t go into Gaza City. Nobody knows what’s going on in there.”
Ireland’s Long History with Eurovision
Ireland has a long and storied history with the Eurovision song Contest, participating 58 times since its debut in 1965. The nation has only missed
