 |
| Eurovision faces boycott over Israel’s inclusion |
Ireland's national broadcaster RTÉ has announced it will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to compete. The decision comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza and marks a significant challenge to Europe's largest musical event .
RTÉ stated Thursday that Ireland's participation would be "unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza." The broadcaster also expressed deep concern about "the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, and the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages" .
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision, has extended its penalty-free withdrawal deadline to December. This allows broadcasters more time to decide their participation while the EBU consults members about Israel's involvement .
Martin Green, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, acknowledged the concerns. "We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East," he said. "We are still consulting with all EBU members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions" .
Ireland has participated in Eurovision since 1965 and holds a joint record with Sweden for most victories at seven wins. Its last win came in 1996 .
Slovenia's national broadcaster RTVSLO has also committed to withdrawing if Israel participates. Spain's culture minister Ernest Urtasun has similarly suggested his country might not take part .
The Netherlands joined the boycott threat on Friday. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS said it was taking this stance because of the loss of life in Gaza and the death of journalists there .
Iceland's national broadcaster RÚV said its participation was "subject to the outcome of the ongoing consultation process." They reserve the right to withdraw if the EBU does not respond satisfactorily to concerns .
The Finnish broadcaster YLE said it was "fully focused" on finding a song but acknowledged Gaza was on their minds. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is tragic, and we sincerely hope for an end to the suffering as soon as possible," said Johanna Törn-Mangs, YLE's director of culture .
The controversy reflects deeper tensions within the Eurovision community. More than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter earlier this year calling for Israel to be banned from the 2025 competition .
The situation draws comparisons to Russia's exclusion from Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said Israel should face the same treatment .
"Nobody was shaking their heads when Russia was banned from international competitions and Eurovision after its invasion of Ukraine," Sánchez said in May. "He called for the same ban to be applied to Israel over the Gaza war" .
Israel has participated in Eurovision 47 times despite not being geographically in Europe. It has won four times, most recently in 2018 .
The country's national broadcaster Kan has already decided to participate in the 2026 contest. This comes despite threats of privatisation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has accused the broadcaster of being too leftist .
Recent Eurovision events have featured protests against Israel's participation. The 2025 contest in Switzerland saw loud boos from the audience during Israeli performances .
Irish Eurovision stars have supported RTÉ's decision. Bambie Thug, Ireland's 2024 entry, said they fully support the move. "I'm proud of RTÉ and the entire delegation for making a stand," they posted on Instagram .
Songwriter Phil Coulter, who co-wrote the UK's 1967 winning entry, also backed the broadcaster. He said there was a "double standard" in allowing Israel to participate while excluding Russia .
Coulter went further by suggesting the BBC should also withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participates. "I think it's a question of conscience," he told BBC Radio Ulster .
Not all performers agree with the boycott approach. Nicky Stevens from Brotherhood of Man, which won Eurovision in 1976, said while horrified by events in Gaza, it would be "a shame" for politics to be "brought into" Eurovision .
The debate extends beyond broadcasters and performers. Daniel Epstein-O'Dowd from the Ireland-Israel Alliance accused RTÉ of attempting to "set another frontier where Israelis, and particularly Jews, are not welcome" .
"This is about delegitimising the Jewish state and undermining Israel's very right to exist," he said .
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. Palestinian health authorities report more than 64,000 deaths since Israel began military action following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack .
That attack killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in about 250 hostages being taken .
The International Court of Justice issued an interim order in January 2024 saying Israel must take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. Numerous rights organisations have described Israel's military actions as genocide .
The 70th anniversary edition of Eurovision is scheduled for May 2026 in Vienna, Austria. The finale will take place on May 16 after semi-finals on May 12 and 14 .
The EBU faces a difficult decision that could significantly impact the scale and nature of next year's event. With several countries threatening withdrawal, the contest might feature considerably fewer participants than the usual 37-40 countries .
Frank Dermody, chair of the Irish Eurovision Fan club, warned that if more broadcasters follow Ireland's lead, there could be a "massive dip" in audience numbers. "You may end up with a competition of 15 or 20 countries," he said .
The BBC has declined to comment on whether it would join a boycott. As part of Eurovision's "Big Five," the British broadcaster is guaranteed entry to the final .
Other broadcasters, including those from Sweden and Spain, have referred questions about participation back to the EBU or said they would not comment yet .
The coming months will determine whether Eurovision 2026 becomes a platform for geopolitical tensions or maintains its traditional focus on musical celebration. The EBU's decision in December will likely shape the future of the contest amid increasing political pressures.