LONDON – Ireland has decided to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year. This decision comes after concerns regarding Israel’s participation in the event, as stated by the country’s national broadcaster RTÉ on Thursday.
RTÉ announced that it will not send any representatives to the 2027 competition in Bulgaria and will refrain from broadcasting the show. The broadcaster cited the “appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there” as the primary reasons for their decision, emphasizing the risk to countless civilian lives.
This year, Ireland was among five countries—including the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain—that chose to skip Eurovision as a form of protest against Israel’s involvement. This collective action highlights a growing sentiment in Europe regarding the ongoing conflict in the region.
Eurovision Director Martin Green expressed regret over RTÉ’s decision but stated that the organizers “fully respect” it. He mentioned, “All broadcasters decide on an annual basis to participate in the following year’s contest. We will remain in dialogue with RTÉ and hope to welcome them back to the contest in the future.”
In a similar vein, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS recently announced its own boycott for the 2027 contest, describing Eurovision as a “platform for division.” They explained that the event can no longer be seen as neutral, given the ongoing military conflict involving a participating country.
The upcoming competition is set to take place in May 2027 at Bulgaria’s Black Sea resort of Burgas, following Bulgarian singer Dara’s victory with her upbeat anthem “Bangaranga” in the 2026 event.
Eurovision was established in 1956, partly to help unite Europe after the devastation of World War II. The contest features performers from numerous countries, all vying for the title of Europe’s best musical act.
Israel has been participating in Eurovision since 1973, making it one of the few non-European countries involved in the competition. However, calls for Israel’s removal from the contest have intensified, particularly due to the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The last few Eurovision contests, including those in Malmö, Sweden in 2024, Basel, Switzerland in 2025, and this year’s event in Vienna, saw significant pro-Palestinian protests alongside heightened security measures. These developments indicate a shift in the atmosphere surrounding the beloved music competition, reflecting broader societal issues.
