Ireland has announced its decision to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest for a second consecutive year due to Israel’s involvement, as confirmed by the country’s national broadcaster on Thursday. RTE revealed that Ireland will not be participating in the 2027 competition in Bulgaria and will not air the event, citing concerns over the ongoing conflict and casualties in Gaza.
Joining four other nations – the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain – Ireland’s move to abstain from Eurovision this year is part of a collective protest against Israel’s presence in the widely-watched music competition. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, which had also decided to skip this year, recently declared its intention to boycott the next edition as well, labeling Eurovision as a platform that fosters divisions.
AVROTROS justified its decision by stating that the Eurovision Song Contest can no longer be viewed as impartial, especially with a participating country embroiled in a significant military conflict. The upcoming 2027 competition is scheduled to be held in May at Burgas, a Black Sea resort in Bulgaria.
