Ireland to boycott 2027 Eurovision contest over Israel's participation

Irish public broadcaster RTÉ announced on Thursday that Ireland will not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, marking the second consecutive year the country has withdrawn from Europe's largest music competition. The broadcaster cited the “appalling and ongoing loss of lives” in Gaza and Israel's continued participation in the contest as the reasons behind the decision.

Ireland was among five countries — alongside Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain — that boycotted the 2026 edition in protest against Israel's inclusion. That coordinated action sent a clear signal to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest. Dutch broadcaster AvroTros had already announced last month that it would boycott again in 2027, and Ireland's decision now aligns with that stance.

RTÉ said it remains deeply concerned about Israel's continued denial of access for international journalists to Gaza, citing this restriction on press freedom as an additional factor in its decision. The broadcaster also confirmed it will not air the 2027 contest at all, going beyond simply withholding a competing entry.

The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Bulgaria, which will host an edition of the competition already overshadowed by political disputes surrounding Israel's participation before preparations have even begun in earnest. The EBU faces mounting pressure from several member broadcasters to reconsider or at least publicly clarify its position on Israel's continued inclusion in the contest.

Ireland is one of the most successful countries in Eurovision history, having won the competition seven times — a record it shares with Sweden. The decision to skip the contest for a second straight year represents a notable break from the country's long-standing tradition of participation.

International coverage of the announcement has varied by region. Media outlets in the Middle East and Arab world have emphasized the humanitarian rationale behind the boycott and framed it as an expression of solidarity with Palestinians, along with criticism of restricted press access in Gaza. Western outlets have tended to focus more on the organizational and cultural-political context, including the EBU's role and the broader implications for the contest.

It remains unclear how the EBU will respond to the renewed boycotts or whether additional countries might join the protest. It is also uncertain whether Israel's participation status for the 2027 edition could change in the coming months. The situation is likely to draw continued attention, particularly if the war in Gaza escalates further or its course shifts significantly.

Ireland's decision adds to a wider debate about the intersection of culture, sport and politics, one that has increasingly touched international events such as the Eurovision Song Contest amid the ongoing war in Gaza.