Ireland is set to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest for the second year in a row, with its national broadcaster RTÉ citing the "appalling" ongoing loss of lives in Gaza. RTÉ announced on Thursday that it would not participate in the 2027 competition.
The Netherlands' broadcaster, Avrotros, also confirmed its boycott last month, stating that the competition "can no longer be considered neutral, with a participating country still involved in a large-scale military conflict."
Ireland was among five countries, including Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia, that did not participate in the 2026 competition in protest against Israel's involvement. Eurovision's director, Martin Green, expressed regret but respected RTÉ's decision, stating they "remain a valued part of our family and will be missed."
The 2027 Eurovision contest is scheduled to be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, following the country's first win in May. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event, has previously attempted to address broadcasters' concerns regarding Israel's participation.