Ireland has decided to boycott the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year due to Israel’s participation, as announced by the country’s national broadcaster, RTE. The decision stems from concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, leading RTE to opt out of sending a representative to the 2027 competition in Bulgaria and to refrain from airing the event.
In solidarity, Ireland joins the ranks of five other countries – the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain – that abstained from participating in Eurovision this year in response to Israel’s involvement in the musical extravaganza. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS recently declared its decision to also skip the next year’s contest, labeling Eurovision as a platform that fosters division.
AVROTROS justified its boycott for 2027 by stating that the Eurovision Song Contest can no longer be viewed as impartial, particularly with a participating country embroiled in a significant military conflict. The upcoming event is scheduled to be held in May in the seaside town of Burgas, Bulgaria.