Not ‘going to be easy’ for Ireland to return to Eurovision, RTÉ boss says

It would be “very difficult” for Ireland to return to Eurovision unless Israel is no longer part of the song contest or there is a “very significant change” in Gaza and the West Bank, Ireland’s national broadcaster has said.

RTÉ boss Kevin Bakhurst also said he does not believe it will be possible for organisers to remove Israel from the competition.

The song contest is run by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), a collection of public service broadcaster on the continent and around the world.

The broadcasters in each participating country are responsible for putting forward an act or choosing to participate at all.

Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia recently boycotted the 2026 contest – with RTÉ also ruling out 2027.

The broadcaster said it would also not broadcast the competition, stating it “cannot be justified given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis”.

Asked how Ireland could return to the competition, Mr Bakhurst said: “I’ve spoken to a lot of our European counterparts on that, and obviously there’s four or five other countries who took the same decision and may make the same decision for next year.

“I felt in a more straightforward position as director general of the Irish Broadcaster, knowing where the Irish audience is and public is.

“You know, the decision is harder for some countries because their public opinion is much more divided.”

Mr Bakhurst, who previously held senior positions at the BBC, added: “I said it was ‘unconscionable’ to take part last year.

“I think it would have been very, very difficult to take part next year and that’s why we took the decision early, given the ongoing conditions in Gaza and West Bank and other parts of the region, and given where the Irish audience is.

“I don’t think it’s going to be easy to go back until there’s a very significant change on the ground, or until Israel is not in the Eurovision.”

Asked if he believed the European Broadcasting Union should remove Israel from the competition, Mr Bakhurst told the RTÉ News Behind The Story podcast: “I don’t think it’s possible.

“The EBU is run by its members or responsible for its members.

“There are enough significant members in the EBU that it’s impossible for the EBU to make that decision, in my view.

“You look at the UK, Germany, France, very publicly on the record, Austria on the record, saying they absolutely do not want Israel excluded.

“So I don’t think it’s really possible for EBU to make that decision.”

He added: “I wouldn’t criticise the EBU on that front at all.

“I think they’ve been treading a very, very difficult line on it.”