Ireland has decided to skip the Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year due to Israel’s involvement, as announced by the country’s national broadcaster, RTE, on Thursday. RTE stated that they will not be sending a representative to the 2027 competition in Bulgaria and will not air the event, citing concerns over the ongoing loss of lives in Gaza.
In addition to Ireland, four other countries – the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain – also opted out of participating in Eurovision this year in protest against Israel’s participation in the international music competition. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS recently declared its decision to boycott next year’s event, labeling Eurovision as a platform that fosters division.
AVROTROS explained that they will not be partaking in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 due to the lack of neutrality, particularly with a participating nation still embroiled in a significant military conflict. The upcoming competition is scheduled to be held in May in Bulgaria’s Black Sea resort of Burgas.