Ireland’s RTÉ says that if Israel is in then Ireland will be out. That’s the Eurovision news coming out of Dublin this afternoon following a statement from the Irish broadcaster. It said:
“It is RTÉ’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU’s decision is made”.
“RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza. RTÉ is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”
The statement comes following the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union in July, during which member broadcasters of the EBU raised concerns about Israel’s participation.
In its statement, the Irish broadcaster thanked the EBU for the “extensive consultation process that was initiated on foot of that meeting, and the extension of the option to withdraw from participation without penalty in December.”
An ongoing controversy
The RTE statement adds further fuel to the ongoing fire at the European Broadcasting Union. In recent weeks, Slovenia’s broadcaster RTVSLO has suggested that it is likely to withdraw from the contest over issues that include Israel’s participation.
The chair of RÚV — Iceland’s national broadcaster — additionally noted there was reservation over the country’s participation in Vienna if Israel was allowed to compete.
Spain’s Minister of Culture has also spoken out.
Speaking on La Hora de la 1, the morning news-talk show of Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE, Ernest Urtasun firmly defended the idea of pulling Spain out of Eurovision 2026 if the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) allows Israel to remain in the competition.
“We cannot normalise Israel’s participation in events like Eurovision,” Urtasun declared. “Both in La Vuelta and in Eurovision, there is a clear national representation. It’s not just about a single artist.”
His mention of La Vuelta, Spain’s renowned multi-stage cycling race, is telling. This year’s edition has been repeatedly disrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocking the route, in protest against the inclusion of an Israeli delegation.
Urtasun stressed that the final call rests with RTVE, yet made clear that the government would not remain passive if Israel takes part.
I can not remember any song from Ireland other than that witch song. Unmemorable country, nothing to miss. I guess Italians have stronger feeling on what music really is good. People here on Wiwibloggs get sad over nothing. If songs aren’t good, then the results are bad. And that’s the call of Ireland. They should take a good look how amazing Italy has been. So many good songs and performances. Even a win. Ireland barely gets to final anymore.
RESPECT, EIRE!
Ireland. This is a super country who has stood up to Israel from the start and now the Irish are taking in further – in may 25 the Irish televote was unusually high towards Israel so they knew it was wrong – Israeli interference
Just remember Israel cheats
Good idea, they sent weak songs anyway and they rarely qualify…
I think everyone can agree EBU should cancel Israel’s participation, and I should participate instead (by choosing any former ESC participating country and representing them in the following Eurovision), like every year one bonus country represented by amateur fan hahah We could even have our own national final, have some rules and whatnot, but, for the sake of paying respect to the father of this great idea (me) I should be chosen internally as the first participant hahaha
OK, bye !
Folks, Dutchie here! Our broadcaster just announced that they will withdraw too if Israel will participate. That makes 5 :).
Bye, great to see the smiley to enjoy and encourage division and ruin the contest, smiley right back at you and your “graceful” wome-threatening (both Sweden and Israel) representative “joost” 🙂
Just out: the Netherlands will also pull out if Israel takes part.
Very good. Go. The contest will be better without countries a participants that use it for their political statements instead of music.
I agree, that’s why Israel shouldn’t participate.
So why not withdrawing the last 2 years? I think these broadcasters are more bothered by the massively rigged televoting points going to Israel, it just sounds better to claim moral issues with the war. Though I think the televoting is already a good reason to kick out Israel, it just spoils the game.
Since the split into two semifinals, the fewest countries in a semifinal have been 15. If Ireland, Iceland, Spain, and Slovenia all follow through with their withdrawal, using the 2025 list the EBU would split the semifinals among 27 countries (13 and 14). It might not be worth having a whole two-hour show just to eliminate 3 countries. That could mean a singular semifinal, which would mean a huge loss of revenue for the EBU. Even more so if other countries withdraw.
Remember their first statement. They wanted Russia to continue participating after the invasion of Ukraine. The broadcaster is not the nation. But yes. ?
Good riddance
I am from Ireland and I don’t agree with them as I love Israel in the eurovision song contest and I am back Israel and Malta in the eurovision song contest next year
Cop on Noel
You don’t even know the Maltese song either. Don’t be a sap
I am Maltese and I hope Malta withdraws from the contest if Israel participates.
Nothing of value will be lost if Ireland withdraws.
Well you’re clearly butthurt by it.
The fact that Ireland’s possible withdrawal irks you more than Israel’s continued participation, speaks volumes about you
Fair
Well if they don’t disqualify Israel this year then, we might only need one semifinal, with the amount of countries that could boycott.
The 70th should be a celebration without Isreals involvement.
Over here in UK it was on news so british media are taking notes and hopefully going to follow suit.
I wonder if complaining to ofcom would bend BBCs arm to force them to vote against Israel.
Israel is 100% withdrawing next year. There is no way EBU will lose all these participants. Israel always sends quality entries but after all these, I think it’s time they took a break from Eurovision. At least EBU should try to bring back withdrawn countries. Eurovision is shrinking with every passing year .
Do they send quality entries though? That ballad from this year was forgettable and Unicorn was a trash pop song.
Nothing will change as long as MorrocanOil remains the main sponsor. The EBU should be ashamed of themselves. I hope every other country follows. Anyone who defends this country is inhuman at this point.
This has nothing to do with Moroccan Oil. They don’t call any shots, and would be easily replaceable as a partner. It’s just a paranoia by some fans.
The reality is that expulsion of KAN from EBU simply doesn’t have support among broadcasters. And as long as KAN is an active member, they can participate.
Have you read this article? There is clearly support among broadcasters….
I’m sure that would be a great loss for someone.
Don’t act like your not butthurt by it, otherwise you wouldn’t be sounding slow
There is a reason Israel has done so well recently and the lefties in meltdown genuinely can’t work out why ? … Vote Israel!! ? ??
Of course if there was a Palestinian participant they’d easily beat Israel in the televote, if it’s about the relative popularity of these two countries among the European population right now. The far right silo is not real life.
So the bulk of the global far right secretly watches Eurovision?
That’s a bit gay of them
That reason is called State propaganda.
I think it’s more to do with sympathy. If you’re a European who doesn’t support what the current Israeli regime is doing, your votes go to one of 23 other entries in a Grand Final. Whereas anyone who wants to show solidarity with Israel can lodge 20 votes (per form of payment) all for the Israeli entry.
The reason is cheating and influencing
Don’t you know they cheated in 2025 Eurovision ??????
I think they should participate but only with Kneecap and Bambie Thug as a protest and send something that takes inspiration from Borats “Throw the #%!! Down the well”
So, now 5 countries have said they would (or would likely) withdraw if Israel is not disqualified. And, as per usual, radio silence from the EBU – hoping if they ignore it then it will go away. They haven’t learned anything from their mistakes of the pat couple of years have they?
Ireland, we love you!
Just need a few more and the EBU will have no choice but to remove them. I’d like a fair contest without that country trying to rig the public vote again
I’ve often been quick to criticise RTÉ but I am 100% behind them on this. Hopefully other countries will follow.
I think it’s really delulu that so many people are taking it as a given that these countries will withdraw when some of these same countries threatened it previous years and they didn’t withdraw. So they’ve been proven to make empty threats. That’s how the EBU will see it against the unproven threats about some countries withdrawing if Israel gets excluded. Sure, they might also be making empty threats, but they haven’t been proven to be empty like with Ireland and Iceland etc. It will get to the deadline. Most likely Israel will still be included, and suddenly these countries… Read more »
“when some of these same countries threatened it previous years and they didn’t withdraw” –> That’s inaccurate: while some countries expressed concerns in previous years, it never went as far as public threats of withdrawal from head of public broadcasters (or even head of states). No one knows what will happen, but it sounds a lot more serious this year (rightfully so, considering the dramatic humanitarian situation).
We need to get them Arabic countries back in the contest so if there is a vote it helps in fans favor to get rid of the particular country.
Even still….you think there’s hope is Israel taking part?
This has been the biggest rejection of Eurovision by these broadcasters ever. And that’s including big broadcasters from Spain and Netherlands.
Yes, the last two years we’ve had threats, usually from singers or artist groups in certain countries or ministers of governments, but this is different. This is the actual broadcasters (the ones who participate after all) saying they won’t be there. This is HUGE.
If you’re still wrapped up in the delusion that Israel should and will be there next year, then I’m sorry but you should read the room.
It’s not really different. Broadcasters have threatened it before. I think it’s a case of mass wishful thinking so they conveniently forget that broadcasters (as well as singers and governments) have made this threat before and nothing happened. I never said anything about should. But I think this is a case of people ignoring recent history in hope that it will be different this time. The same people are also so sure that countries who have said they will leave if Israel are banned won’t stick to it, when they haven’t been proven whether they are bluffing or not. By… Read more »
I was watching the main news on RTÉ an hour ago and there was no maybe about it, if Israel are in, we’re out. They were very definite about it.
Oh well. No one ever lies on the news (or is just simply wrong). We’ve heard this before. Even if a few countries actually do pull out, that doesn’t mean Israel will be out. There are broadcasters who already don’t compete because of Israel.
No country has openly said they’ll withdraw if israel competes before. Sounds more like you find it hard to cope with watching the tables turn.
No. It sounds more like people are reading too much into it at this stage. Just like you read too much into my comment. Where did I say I was bothered about the tables turning? I didn’t.
Just because I remember the last few years and the empty threats doesn’t mean I’m an Israeli super fan ?
People also immediately discount any threats to pull out if Israel are banned as “fake”, “won’t happen” when they haven’t been proven whether they mean it or not. Seems like it’s a lot of you who are trying to cope.
I can’t say I’m surprised that the echo chamber hates facts and reality checks ?
So that’s Ireland, and potentially Spain, Slovenia, Belgium and Iceland (at least). That should open the door for more countries to withdraw. Frankly, they should do it anyway to protest the absolute chaos from last 2 years… In 1970, 4 countries withdrew to protest the 4 winners and the lack of tiebreak rule the previous year, and I think we can all agree this was a much less serious crisis. Same thought process here: the EBU should suffer consequences for their mismanagement, and the contest will be better for it.
Give it one more week, and Eurovision won’t need the semis anymore. No but I’m glad some countries finally have the backbone to say a straight up No.
The overall boss of the EBU is Irish, I don’t understand why he can’t just make the overall decision himself instead of leaving it to his underlings. In fairness to the Eurovision producers, they are not paid enough to make such intense decisions such as this. Leave it to the very top. Do the right thing, Noel Curran AKA Mr. Eimear Quinn.
Because the biggest contributor to the EBU are Germany, and Germany are (for obvious reasons) very reluctant to exclude or criticize Israel in any way.
Proud of my country.
Saoirse don Ph alas tain
It’s done. There’s no way the EBU can ignore this now. Israel will be removed. Tiochaidh ar lá
Finally… Someone’s balls dropped. Proud.
What is taking December so loooooooooonngggggggggg?
But what are they are planning to do in December? Voting about expulsion of Israeli broadcaster? That’s a catfish, according to the Statute of EBU it is done in case of expulsion of a member and needs 3/4 of the votes in favor, which is unreal. EBU board can already suspend Israel like they did Russia, under temporary suspension of a member. We don’t need voting for Israel to be out!
They also have SO many options to exclude them: they could use the political songs/lyrics from previous years, the behavior of their delegation backstage, the political interferences in the televote, hold a vote, suspend the broadcaster, etc.
Ironicly I think this can be the saving. EBU needs to have two semifinals to keep the ship floating. With four countries gone there would be no need for two semifinals since there are not enough countries to motivate it.
And I doubt EBU wants that..
So either Israel gets in and we have a very stripped down edition with lot of fillers or Israel is out and we have a normal one
Could be an absolute s-show if Israel were allowed to stay in. TV production staff around Europe (many of whom are members of trade unions) disrupting the broadcast or blocking the Israeli performance from being shown. The atmosphere around their participation seems much, much worse than even in Basel.
Ireland
Spain
Slovenia
Iceland
The list is growing day after day…
This makes Ireland the first country to take seriously. Anything less does nothing. If they don’t have enough participants for two semis, even that Green guy can’t laugh it off. He already another curse on the contest. Good on Ireland. Talk does nothing, anything less than withdrawing will always be ignored by the EBU and the ignorant Greens of this world.
Is there a specific minimum number of countries required for a semi-final to happen?
I don’t actually know, we had as low as 37 countries with two semifinals (2014 and the last two years if I’m not mistaken) and as high as 42 with one (2007). But it is unlikely that they would return to that system, because unless there are less than 32 countries, it would be longer than the actual final (that is, without reviving the rule of the top 10 outside the big 5 qualifying automatically for next year’s final)
First Slovenia, then later Spain, Ireland and Iceland to do so. I don’t know what to say anymore
Ok so 4 countries will not participate if Israel competes, no returnees, than means that ESC is bound to lose a semi, which means to lose money. I think we are closer than ever to an Israeli disqualification and I am very happy. When Israel is officially disqualified I will be even happier and when Palestine is finally free it will be the best day ever.
that is more than enough countries, we can have more Israeli entries that way
Bye bye
Ragebait worked. Seriously though, stop searching for headlines and work to bring them home instead
Work to keep the Palestinians in their home …..in fact, work to give them the home they deserve.
Tell that to your own government (which is what Israeli protesters have been doing for 2 years). Telling it to the TV broadcaster of a foreign country in an anonymous comment section doesn’t really add any value.
Bye bye Israel?
yes, imminently and it will be beautiful
stay tuned, learn, grow, recover.
Slan
bye bye israel, no way the ebu will ignore the issue now
You underestimate the EBU’s ability to bury their heads in their collective backsides. . .