Following the General Assembly held today in Geneva, the EBU members were asked to vote (secretly) on whether they support the new suggested changes to the Eurovision Contest rules.
With broad agreement that a further vote wasn’t needed, the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is confirmed to go ahead, including the new safeguards. Following this, no separate vote on participating countries was needed.
The Irish broadcaster RTE expressed dissatisfaction with the results and, as a result, decided to withdraw from Eurovision 2026.
Attached here is the full statement of the Irish broadcaster:
Ireland will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and it will not be broadcast on RTÉ, after organiser the European Broadcasting Union confirmed today that Israel will be allowed to take part.
The EBU decision was taken at a meeting in Geneva today, at which a majority of members agreed a vote was not needed on Israel’s participation, provided all members who wish to participate agree to comply with new voting rules.
RTE won’t broadcast Eurovision 2026.
Ireland has participated in Eurovision 58 times, with 56 grand final appearances.
The first participation was in 1965.
Over the years, the country has won 7 Eurovision trophies in 1970, 1980, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1996.
We hope to see Ireland competing in Eurovision in the future
Eurovision 2026 will be held in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026.
