Irish Eurovision fans will still be able to watch this year’s contest despite RTÉ deciding not to participate in or broadcast the event following controversy surrounding Israel’s inclusion in the competition.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 begins with the first semi-final on Tuesday, 12 May at 8pm Irish time, followed by the second semi-final on Thursday, 14 May at 8pm, before the competition concludes with the grand final on Saturday, 16 May at 8pm.
The contest, which takes place in Vienna, will not air on traditional Irish television channels for the first time in decades after Ireland officially withdrew from the competition.
However, viewers in Ireland will still have several options to follow the event live online and through international broadcasters.
The easiest and most reliable option will be the official Eurovision YouTube channel, which is expected to stream the contest live worldwide without geo-restrictions.
Fans with access to UK television services will also be able to watch coverage through BBC One and BBC iPlayer, which traditionally broadcasts the semi-finals and grand final in full.
A number of European broadcasters are also expected to stream Eurovision for free through their own online platforms, including services such as France.tv in France and ARD Mediathek in Germany. However, these services are generally restricted to viewers within those countries, meaning Irish users would typically require a VPN to access them.
Ireland’s withdrawal from Eurovision marks a major moment for the country, which has participated in the competition 58 times since 1965 and remains one of the contest’s most successful nations.
The country has only missed Eurovision twice before, in 1983 and 2002.
This year’s contest has become one of the most politically charged in Eurovision history, with several countries withdrawing in protest over Israel’s participation amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Alongside Ireland, countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland have opted out of the 2026 competition.
View this post on Instagram
The result is Eurovision’s smallest line-up in more than two decades, with just 35 countries set to compete in Vienna.
Despite the boycott, organisers say global interest remains strong, with around 95,000 tickets sold to fans travelling from 75 countries.
The competition will take place at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, with two semi-finals leading up to the grand final.
Bookmakers are currently tipping Finland, Greece, Denmark, Australia and France among the favourites to win the 70th edition of the contest.
The boycott movement has also gained traction within the wider music industry, with more than 1,000 artists reportedly calling for action over Israel’s participation.
Protests are expected in Vienna throughout Eurovision week, while Austrian authorities have introduced extensive security measures around the event.
Around 16,000 staff members have reportedly undergone vetting procedures, with additional protections in place against potential cyber threats and public disorder.
