RTÉ to skip Eurovision 2026 if Israel competes, pending EBU ruling

Ireland's public broadcaster RTÉ said it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna if Israel is permitted to compete, making its participation conditional on a decision by the European Broadcasting Union. In a statement, RTÉ called competing alongside Israel "unconscionable" given the "ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza," and said it would decide a final course of action once the EBU rules on the matter.

RTÉ said at the EBU's General Assembly in July several members raised concerns about Israel's participation and that the union opened an extended consultation, including an option to withdraw without penalty until December. The broadcaster cited three central concerns: civilian deaths in Gaza, what it described as the targeted killing of journalists there, and the plight of hostages still held by Hamas. The statement said RTÉ was "deeply concerned" about denial of access for international journalists to the Gaza Strip.

The announcement follows similar public positions from broadcasters in Spain, Slovenia and Iceland. Icelandic public broadcaster RÚV's director general, Stefán Eiríksson, was reported as saying that if the EBU does not respond to...