The protest will take place at RTÉ’s Dublin headquarters at 12:30 p.m. on November 1.
A demonstration is set to be held at RTÉ’s Dublin headquarters on November 1 in support of the broadcaster’s boycott of Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) said the date is “European Day of Action on Eurovision” in an Instagram post announcing the protest.
On the ISPC they said: “Join us outside RTÉ at 12:30 pm as we support any friendly workers and tell RTÉ to stand firm on their boycott so long as Israel is part of Eurovision,”
https://instagram.com/p/DQZOzIYjQRB/
RTÉ is one of multiple European broadcasters, including Spain and the Netherlands, which have threatened to boycott Eurovision if Israel remains in the lineup.
In response to the mounting international pressure, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) which organises the contest announced a plan to meet online in November to determine whether Israel would be allowed to participate.
However, the EBU announced earlier this month they will no longer hold the emergency vote, citing “recent developments in the Middle East.”
While the EBU said they have “put the issue” of Israel’s inclusion in the contest “on the agenda” of their usual General Assembly in December, it is unclear if a formal vote will still take place.
IPSC media coordinator Betty Purcell told Hot Press at the October 29 protest that a boycott is the most efficient course of action.
Purcell stated: “The EBU can make the decision if they want an inclusive Eurovision… It’s very simple: exclude Israel, and everyone will turn up and everyone will have a fine time. That’s what we would like.”
The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle in Austria on May 12th, 14th and 16th.
