Ireland has announced its decision to abstain from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year due to Israel’s involvement, as confirmed by the country’s national broadcaster. RTE declared that it will not be sending a representative to the 2027 event in Bulgaria and will refrain from airing the show, citing concerns over the “tragic and continuous loss of lives in Gaza.”
This move by Ireland places it among the group of five nations, including the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain, that chose to forego the Eurovision competition this year in protest against Israel’s inclusion in the pan-European music event. In a similar stance, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS recently disclosed its intention to also boycott the upcoming year, characterizing Eurovision as a platform that fosters division.
AVROTROS specified that its non-participation in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is motivated by the event’s perceived lack of neutrality, especially with a participating country embroiled in a significant military conflict. The upcoming competition is scheduled to be held in May in the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Burgas.