The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 2026.
Events January 1 January – RTÉ One's New Year's Eve celebrations included a special edition of The Late Late Show from 10.25pm presented by Patrick Kielty, with performances from David Gray, Lyra, Garron Noone and Sharon Shannon, and a live countdown from Dublin Castle with a performance from Inhaler. Irish athlete Kate O'Connor, Olympic rower Fintan McCarthy, architect Dermot Bannon and cast members from The Traitors Ireland also appeared on the show. 5 January – Virgin Media One airs the Coronation Street/Emmerdale crossover episode Corriedale ahead of the launch of a new "Soap Power Hour" that will see Emmerdale airing at 8pm and Coronation Street at 8.30pm on weeknights. 6 January – Virgin Media One begins showing the sitcom Friends at 7.30pm on weeknights. 24 January – RTÉ and Virgin Media Television reveal their schedules for coverage of the 2026 Six Nations Championship.
February 4 February – Guinness and Virgin Media Television announce they are collaborating for a second year to provide audio description and sign language for viewers of the Six Nations Championship. 19 February – Former Coronation Street actress Beverley Callard makes her debut in Irish soap Fair City. 20 February – The 22nd Irish Film & Television Awards take place at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
March 15 March – Katelyn Cummins and professional dancer Leonardo Lini win series 9 of Dancing with the Stars.
July 7 July – RTÉ confirms that Patrick Kielty will return as presenter of The Late Late Show in September, following speculation he would not do so.
August 18 August – The Westmeath Rose, Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh, wins the 2026 Rose of Tralee, which was shown on RTÉ 1 over two nights.
September 17 September – RTÉ confirms it will not return to the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, due to Israel's participation, the second occasion on which it has withdrawn from the contest.
Debuts 1 February – These Sacred Vows on RTÉ 1.
Ongoing television programmes
1960s RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present) RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present) The Late Late Show (1962–present)
1970s The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present) The Sunday Game (1979–present)
1980s Fair City (1989–present) RTÉ News: One O'Clock (1989–present)
1990s Would You Believe (1990s–present) Winning Streak (1990–present) Prime Time (1992–present) Nuacht RTÉ (1995–present) Nuacht TG4 (1996–present) Reeling In the Years (1999–present) Ros na Rún (1996–present) Virgin Media News (1998–present) Ireland AM (1999–present) Telly Bingo (1999–present)
2000s Nationwide (2000–present) Virgin Media News (2001–present) – now known as the 5.30 Against the Head (2003–present) news2day (2003–present) Other Voices (2003–present) The Week in Politics (2006–present) At Your Service (2008–present) Two Tube (2009–present)
2010s Room to Improve (2007–present) Jack Taylor (2010–present) Mrs. Brown's Boys (2011–present) MasterChef Ireland (2011–present) Today (2012–present) The Works (2012–present) Second Captains Live (2013–present) Ireland's Fittest Family (2014–present) The Restaurant (2015–present) Red Rock (2015–present) First Dates (2016–present) Dancing with the Stars (2017–2020, 2022–present) The Tommy Tiernan Show (2017–present)
2020s The Style Counsellors (2020–present) The 2 Johnnies' Late Night Lock In (2023–present)
Deaths 20 March – Ben Keaton, 69, Irish actor (Emmerdale, Casualty, Father Ted). 22 March – Michael Lyster, 71, sports broadcaster (The Sunday Game). (death announced on this date) 3 May – Gary Lydon, 61, actor (The Banshees of Inisherin, The Clinic, War Horse). (death announced on this date)
References