Ireland Threatens Eurovision Boycott If Zionist Entity Takes Part
Ireland will not take part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if the Zionist entity participates, the Irish state broadcaster RTE said on Thursday.
“It is RTE’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if the participation of Israel goes ahead,” it said in a statement.
“RTE feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza,” it added.
Ireland has won Eurovision seven times — more times than any other country.
A final decision would be taken when the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) makes a ruling on the matter, following concerns raised by several members at a general assembly in July, it said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in May that the Zionist entity should be excluded in future.
Noting that Russia had not been allowed to take part since its “invasion of Ukraine” in 2022, he said “Israel shouldn’t either because what we cannot allow is double standards in culture”.
Eurovision is organised by the EBU in cooperation with its members, national public service broadcasters such as RTE, in over 35 countries.
