Ireland to Boycott Eurovision 2027 Over Israel's Participation
National broadcaster RTÉ cites humanitarian crisis in Gaza as reason for withdrawal.
Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, announced Thursday it will boycott the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest and will not broadcast the event, citing the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
This marks the second consecutive year Ireland will not participate, following a similar decision for the 2026 contest. RTÉ stated that the "appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there" made participation untenable.
Ireland was among five countries, including the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain, that skipped this year's competition to protest Israel's inclusion. Eurovision Director Martin Green expressed regret over RTÉ's decision but stated that organizers fully respect it and hope for their return in the future.
Similarly, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced its boycott of the 2027 contest, describing Eurovision as no longer a neutral platform due to Israel's involvement in a "large-scale military conflict."
The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, following Bulgaria's victory in the 2026 event. Founded in 1956, Eurovision was initially conceived to help unite Europe after World War II.
Israel has been a participant since 1973. However, recent Israeli military actions in Gaza have led to increased calls for its exclusion from the contest. Pro-Palestinian protests and heightened security measures have accompanied recent Eurovision events in Malmö, Sweden; Basel, Switzerland; and Vienna.