Eurovision Song Contest 2025 - Mod warning in the OP

You're right - if you're going to parachute a big name into the presenting lineup for the grand final, then they really need to bring something…and Michelle didn't. Graham Norton two years ago was also added just for the final, but he didn't feel as out of place as Michelle. We might not see this done again - and I'd be happy with that. By adding a presenter only for the final night, they have no chance to build chemistry with the other presenters or a connection with the audience.

I often mention the Love Love Peace Peace fan blog on here, and here is Anna's take on the presenter lineup this year:

I understand your point about needing someone in the green room, but Petra and Måns/Malin coped fine as just a twosome in 2016/24. Sandra could have handled the jury voting alone, with Hazel in the green room. Another possibility for the final would have been to have had someone just as the green room presenter, like Eric Saade was in 2013 or Conchita in 2015.

As I said, if you're going to add a big name to the presenter lineup, they have to bring something to the show, and Michelle certainly didn't.

What better post to close the thread with…because I says so. 😎 😁

(Here’s hoping that boards.ie is still around next May 😔).

Kealy is gone!!! Finally. I understand that he was hamstrung by the limited resources given to him by RTE he was also the man who -

Internally selected Nicky Byrne with 'Sunlight' in 2016

Allowed Louis Walsh to pick our entry in 2017

Thought '22' was a competitive Eurovision entry in 2019

Selected Lesley Roy twice without checking if she could actually perform the songs well live

Let Wild Youth bring 'We are One' to the national final in 2023, knowing that they'd probably win it due to their existing fanbase, despite the song being generic thrash.

Now I hope RTE gives the new team extra resources and most importantly a standalone national final. Hopefully the new HOD Alan Tyler can have more leverage.

2026 will be the 30th anniversary of our 7th and last win, so maybe it's time we got win number 8. We are also the only western nation not to finish in the top 5 at least once in the 21st century (Bambie Thug was robbed!!) Hopefully that changes soon.

Bambie Thug was the best entry we had in years. It had everything. Great musicality, stage awareness, slightly retro a la Kate Bush, fantastic costume, highly entertaining, shock factor.

Neither am I TBH, but I have little faith in RTÉ. As Alan has been very hands on with TLLS, I suspect it will be TLLS special, you have to remember even with Tubs those specials were key to showing audiences.

It would be nice if on one of the weeks that TLLS is no on that a stand alone National Song Contest is aired. But between you and me I don't think RTÉ even have these types of conversations.

I'd say it's far from a given that we will see Israel at next year's Contest. There's increasing talk of boycotts, sanctions, protests etc across the board in different sectors, including sport - momentum could well force them out of Eurovision.

To take the Russia example again, in addition to pressure from broadcasters, what also forced the EBU to do something was that other international bodies were taking action. When the EBU were saying that Russia could still compete in 2022, bodies like the FIA were doing things like cancelling the Russian Grand Prix, which made the EBU look even worse. So, if we see an organisation like UEFA ban Israel, then that would likely push the EBU to do something too.

Thing is, Israel is a pretty weak country sports-wise, they've only qualified for the World Cup once, have never made the Euros and have only won a total of four Olympics gold medals since 1952, so I don't worry about Israel taking part in sporting events, they're a minnow. Eurovision is different, it's something they have a real chance of winning, and of course, unlike the Euros, if you win, you host, so the opportunity for propaganda is massive.

If the number of participants were to fall below 30, then they couldn't hold two semis, because you might have 13 countries, with 10 going through, in each one and that would be a ridiculous look. We might see a return of the 2004-2007 format, with just one semi.

Their presence is becoming really toxic though. Netanyahu has moved them into being a far right military dictatorship committing genocide and war crimes galore - a state as vile and disgusting as that has no place on the Eurovision stage, a contest that was supposed to be about peace and harmony and respect for other cultures etc. Their presence here is even more jarring than in football.

Our first indication will be in the coming weeks when RTE issue a call for submissions for ESC 2026. There may be information of selection methods included. We have to give the new team a chance and see what happens.

I'm gonna go ahead and say that seeing as how the new team only have a few weeks… absolutely nothing will change as they'll say they simply haven't had long enough to 'bring their ideas to life', and we'll have to wait til 2027 to see the fruits of their 'hard work'

at the very least, the voting system is dead given how easily Israel were allowed to manipulate it and almost win…..

You should start the thread every year on September 1st., as it marks the beginning of competing countries allowing song submissions.

Let the mayhem begin (again!)!

Ireland will not take part in 2026 if Israel are allowed to take part..

https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0911/1532957-rte-eurovision/

RTÉ has announced this lunchtime that it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song contest "if the participation of Israel goes ahead."

In a statement released today, RTÉ says that "it is RTÉ's position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland's participation will be made once the EBU's decision is made. "

Here We Go!!!!!!

yep, It'll be like dominoes falling now…