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 Ireland will not be represented at the 2027 event in Bulgaria and will not air the competition, citing concerns over the “tragic and continuous loss of lives in Gaza.”
This year, Ireland joined the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain in skipping the Eurovision contest in protest against Israel’s participation in the musical event. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS recently declared its boycott for the upcoming year, labeling Eurovision as a “platform that fosters division.”
AVROTROS explained its decision by stating that they will not partake in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 due to the lack of neutrality in the event, especially with a participating country embroiled in a significant military conflict. The next year’s competition is scheduled to be held in May in Bulgaria’s Black Sea resort town of Burgas.