'Sad, but the right choice'- Mixed reactions as RTE officially boycotts Eurovision 2026

RTE have released a statement on their updated stance on where Ireland stands with the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.

RTE previously said it would not broadcast next year’s competition if Israel competed, a move that prevents Ireland’s own entry under Eurovision rules.

It confirmed its decision on Thursday night after the European Broadcasting Union said Israel would be allowed to take part.

In a statement, RTE said: “Following today’s EBU Winter General Assembly in Geneva at which Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest was confirmed, RTÉ’s position remains unchanged.

"RTÉ will not participate in the, nor will RTÉ broadcast the competition.

"RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.

"RTÉ remains deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory.”

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The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) posted a message online saying: “Well done RTE.”

The Dublin Broadcasting branch of the National Union of Journalists also welcomed the decision.

In a statement on X, it said: “We agree that to participate would be unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza, the targeted killing of journalists, & Israel’s continued denial of international media access to Gaza.”

There has been mixed reactions on social media to RTE's decision, with people praising the move and others disagreeing with the decision made.

Some that agreed with RTE have made comments such as: "Well done RTE. At last a company having and enacting the courage of their convictions" and "sad, but the right choice".

Other positive comments said: "Well done Ireland, leading the way with strength and compassion" and "so very proud to be Irish today!! RTE did the right thing. Others who do not follow are clearly cowards!".

Other people believe that RTE did not make the right decision and one person said: "has some cheek talking on my behalf, or on behalf of other people in this country. This is not what the taxpayer or TV licence player signed up for. Keep politics out of sports and the the arts".

Dr Paul Jordan, expert and media commentator on the Eurovision Song Contest was on Newstalk recently to give his take on the matter.

He said: "I feel really horribly conflicted by the whole thing....and I've got friends who I've actually fallen out with over it....I can understand why people would feel uncomfortable with Israel being there but what I would say is that the singers are not representatives of the Israeli government...so it's more complicated than that.

"I think Eurovision is about bringing people together and it's about and it's done amazing things over the years...look at the UK and Ireland in the 70s during the troubles we still shared that stage together...it's really powerful and it's a really emotional thing for me.....I don't know how I feel if I'm honest...I understand the concerns on both sides....it's not black and white".