Ireland to Boycott 2027 Eurovision as Well
Irish public broadcaster RTÉ has announced it will skip the Eurovision Song Contest for a second consecutive year and will not broadcast it in Ireland, citing Israel's participation.
Irish public broadcaster RTÉ announced on Thursday that Ireland will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, marking the second consecutive year of non-participation. The decision also means RTÉ will not air the contest in Ireland at all.
The broadcaster cited the situation in the Gaza Strip as its reasoning, pointing to civilian casualties and the ongoing severe humanitarian crisis in the region. Ireland already boycotted Eurovision this year over the same concern regarding Israel's participation.
Other countries join the protest
In the 2026 contest, Spain, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands also withdrew for similar reasons. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has already confirmed it will likewise sit out the 2027 edition, stating that under current circumstances Eurovision can no longer be considered a neutral event.
Organizers' response
Eurovision director Martin Green expressed regret over Ireland's decision, while stressing that contest organizers respect each participating broadcaster's right to decide on its own participation. Organizers said they hope Ireland will return to the contest in the future.
The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in May in Burgas, a city on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. Bulgaria earned hosting rights after singer Dara's win at Eurovision 2026.
