Ireland's national broadcaster, RTÉ, has announced that the country will boycott the Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year. The decision to decline participation and broadcasting of the event in 2027 is driven by Israel's participation in the competition and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Reasons for the decision
In an official statement, RTÉ declared that Ireland's participation cannot be justified given the heavy loss of human life in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis that threatens the lives of many civilians. The Bulgarian national broadcaster has also expressed concern regarding international journalists' access to the territory.
Ireland is not the only country to take such a stance. It joins nations such as the Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, and Slovenia, which refused to participate in the song contest this year as a protest against Israel's presence. The Dutch broadcaster Avrotros has already announced a boycott for 2027, stating that the contest can no longer be considered neutral as a participating country is a direct participant in a large-scale military conflict.
Organizers' position and new rules
Eurovision Executive Supervisor Martin Green expressed regret but emphasized that he respects RTÉ's decision. He added that the organizers will maintain a dialogue with the Irish broadcaster in the hope of welcoming them back in the future.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has taken several steps to address the concerns of various participants. Some time ago, the number of votes that could be cast via internet or telephone was reduced following allegations of disproportionate public voting campaigns. It was also announced that media organizations will not be able to win the right to host the contest if their country is involved in an armed conflict or is in a sensitive geopolitical situation.
Contest context
Eurovision 2027 will be held in May in the Bulgarian city of Burgas. The choice of location follows the victory of Bulgarian singer Dara in the 2026 competition. Israel has participated in the contest since 1973 and is one of the few non-European participants, but its participation has triggered waves of protests in recent years.