From the ‘Late Late’ to international soccer, here’s what viewers can expect from the national broadcaster next year
As the title suggests, On the Beat – which returns for another series from January 5 – will give viewers “unprecedented access to the work of An Garda Síochána” in counties Limerick, Monaghan and Waterford over a six-month period.
Any Given Day: Cork University Hospital airs on January 7. Described as “a powerful new six-part documentary series that goes beyond the headlines and behind the scenes of one of Ireland’s biggest and busiest hospitals”, it sets out to tell the story of a health service in action through staff stories and patient journeys.
In spring, we will get the two-part The Ryanair Story, and RTÉ Investigates will dive into mental health services in Ireland.
‘Late Late Show’ host Patrick Kielty. Photo: Andres Poveda
Museum of Me is also coming in spring. Host Dermot Whelan will invite well-known Irish public figures – including Bryan Dobson, Emma Doran and Steve Garrigan – to become curators of their own museum exhibition.
Following on from The Late Late New Year’s Eve Show on December 31, Patrick Kielty will return on January 9 with the first Late Late Show Trad Special, dedicated to Irish traditional music. Viewers can expect a session to end all sessions, with one legendary performer being inducted into the Late Late Show trad hall of fame.
The Tommy Tiernan Show will return for its 10th series on January 3, and will run for 16 Saturday nights.
The Dancing with the Stars class of 2026 will take to the tiles on January 4 for the ninth season of the show. This year’s contestants include Traitors star Paudie Moloney, Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins, Olympic bronze medallist Philip Doyle and Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh.
Radio broadcaster Laura Fox will join Jennifer Zamparelli to present the show, filling the glittering heels of Doireann Garrihy, who is on leave.
Troy Parrott and Seamus Coleman celebrate after Republic of Ireland secures a place in the World Cup play-off semi-finals. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Dermot Bannon will return to our screens on January 4, “helping families looking to downsize, upsize or find the right size for their next chapter”.
Nine drama productions were also filmed for RTÉ in 2025, “creating 142 hours of home-grown storytelling for Irish audiences”, including a second series of Sisters and a new comedy-drama series, These Sacred Vows, filmed in Tenerife and starring Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Justine Mitchell and Jason O’Mara.
From left, Brian Redmond, Karen Byrne, Arthur Gourounlian, Oti Mabuse, Laura Fox and Jennifer Zamparelli, the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ judges and hosts. Photo: Barry McCall
News in 90 Seconds – 29th December 2025
The sporting year kicks off with the Champions League, returning on Wednesday nights in January. In international soccer, the Republic of Ireland will face Czechia in a World Cup play-off semi-final on March 26, with the winners moving on to the play-off final on March 31.
The Allianz football and hurling leagues will also return in January, with live coverage across television and radio as 2025 football winners Kerry and hurling winners Cork look to defend their respective crowns.
Finally, on January 15, there will be a special day of live broadcasts from the GPO to mark 100 years since the first RTÉ radio broadcast in 1926.