Ireland has decided to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year due to Israel’s involvement, as confirmed by the country’s national broadcaster, RTE. The broadcaster stated that Ireland will not be participating in the 2027 event hosted in Bulgaria and will not air the show, citing concerns over the ongoing loss of lives in Gaza.
This decision aligns Ireland with a group of countries, including the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain, that opted out of this year’s Eurovision in protest against Israel’s participation. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has also declared its boycott for the upcoming year, labeling Eurovision as a platform that fosters division.
AVROTROS emphasized that they will not partake in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, highlighting the lack of neutrality in an event where a participating country is embroiled in a significant military conflict. The next year’s competition is scheduled to be held in May in Burgas, a Black Sea resort in Bulgaria.