Ireland has decided to abstain from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second consecutive year due to Israel’s involvement, as announced by the country’s national broadcaster on Thursday. RTE confirmed that they will not be sending a representative to the 2027 event in Bulgaria and will also refrain from airing the show because of the ongoing casualties in Gaza, which they described as “appalling.”
In solidarity with Ireland, other countries like the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain also chose to boycott this year’s Eurovision in protest against Israel’s participation in the international music competition. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS recently declared that they will extend the boycott to next year, citing Eurovision as a platform that fosters division.
AVROTROS justified their decision by stating that the Eurovision Song Contest can no longer be seen as impartial, especially with a participating nation embroiled in a significant military conflict. The upcoming 2027 competition is scheduled to be held in May in Burgas, a Black Sea resort in Bulgaria.
