Ireland has decided to abstain from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year due to Israel’s involvement, as announced by the country’s national broadcaster, RTE, on Thursday. RTE confirmed that Ireland will not be represented at the 2027 event in Bulgaria and will not air the competition, citing concerns over the ongoing conflict and casualties in Gaza.
Joining Ireland, five other nations, including the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain, opted out of the Eurovision Song Contest this year in protest against Israel’s presence in the competition. Recently, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS declared its decision to also boycott the following year’s event, labeling Eurovision as a platform that fosters division.
AVROTROS justified its stance by stating that they will not partake in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest due to the lack of neutrality, particularly with a participating country embroiled in a significant military conflict. The forthcoming competition is scheduled to be held in May in the Black Sea resort of Burgas, Bulgaria.