Ireland has announced its decision to abstain from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year due to Israel’s involvement, as per the country’s national broadcaster. RTE stated that it will not be sending a representative to the 2027 event in Bulgaria and will refrain from airing the competition, citing concerns over the “tragic and continuous loss of lives in Gaza.”
This move by Ireland follows a similar stance taken by five other nations, including the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain, who also chose to boycott Eurovision this year in objection to Israel’s presence in the international music event. Adding to the list of boycotters, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS recently declared their decision to abstain from next year’s contest, labeling Eurovision as a “platform that fosters discord.”
AVROTROS justified its stance by stating, “AVROTROS will not engage in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 due to the lack of neutrality in the event, with a participating country still entangled in a significant military conflict.” The upcoming competition is scheduled to be held in May in the Black Sea resort town of Burgas in Bulgaria.
