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. The decision not to send a representative to the 2027 competition in Bulgaria and to refrain from airing the show stems from concerns over the ongoing loss of lives in Gaza.
This move by Ireland follows similar actions taken by five other countries, including the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain, who also opted out of Eurovision this year in protest against Israel’s participation in the cross-continental music event. In a related development, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS recently declared its intention to boycott the next year’s competition, citing Eurovision as a platform that fosters division.
AVROTROS justified its decision by stating that the Eurovision Song Contest can no longer be viewed as impartial, particularly with a participating nation embroiled in a significant military conflict. The upcoming 2027 edition of the competition is scheduled to be held in May in the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Burgas.
