Ireland Signals Potential Eurovision Withdrawal Over Israel’s Participation
DUBLIN,IRELAND – Ireland’s national broadcaster,RTÉ,has indicated it may withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026 if israel is permitted to participate,escalating international pressure surrounding the event and its stance on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The move follows growing calls from artists and pro-Palestinian groups for a ban on Israel’s involvement in the competition.
The potential boycott centers on concerns that Israel’s participation undermines the Eurovision’s core values of peace, unity, and inclusivity. More than 70 former Eurovision contestants earlier this year signed a letter urging organizers to exclude Israel from the 2025 contest. Ireland’s stance, articulated by Frank Dermody, Chair of the Irish Eurovision Fan Club, reflects a deepening unease within the fan base and a willingness to take decisive action.
Dermody lauded RTÉ’s decision as “very good,” stating, “I found it quite challenging the last two years watching a country use our competition of peace and love to spread the opposite.” He warned that a wider exodus of broadcasters could considerably diminish the contest’s scale, possibly reducing participation to as few as 15 or 20 countries-a substantial decrease from the typical 37 to 40 nations.
The threat of withdrawal adds to the complexities facing the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the institution responsible for running Eurovision. The EBU has maintained that the contest is a non-political event,but faces increasing scrutiny over its handling of the situation. RTÉ has not specified the conditions under which it would participate in 2026, leaving the future of Ireland’s involvement contingent on decisions made regarding Israel’s eligibility.
