RTÉ, Ireland’s national public broadcaster, announced it will abstain from the Eurovision Song Contest for a second consecutive year, saying the country’s participation in the contest “cannot be justified given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza.”
In a brief statement, RTÉ linked its decision to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and said the scale of suffering meant it was not appropriate for Ireland to take part. The broadcaster did not immediately provide further operational details, including whether it would transmit the contest or the status of any potential Irish entrants.
The Eurovision Song Contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Union and typically features broadcasters and performers from across Europe and beyond. Ireland has been a long-standing participant in the contest; RTÉ’s announcement marks a notable interruption to that record by explicitly tying cultural participation to an international crisis.
The move follows RTÉ’s similar decision last year to refrain from participating in Eurovision. The broadcaster’s statement underscores how the conflict in Gaza has begun to affect cultural and media engagements, but RTÉ offered no timeline for when it might revisit the decision.
Further details are expected as the contest approaches and as RTÉ clarifies the practical implications of the boycott for viewers and artists in Ireland.