Ireland boycotts Eurovision for second consecutive year

DUBLIN, Sept. 17 (YPA) – Ireland will not participate in or broadcast next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, public broadcaster RTE said Thursday, citing the “ongoing loss of lives in Gaza”.

A spokesman for Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE), the broadcaster which manages Ireland’s entry in the competition, said: “RTÉ will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTE broadcast the competition.

“RTE feels that Ireland’s participation cannot be justified given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”

RTÉ also expressed “grave concern” over the continued exclusion of independent international journalists from accessing the Gaza Strip.

The decision marks Ireland’s second consecutive boycott of the contest.

In December 2025, RTÉ announced that it would not participate in the 2026 Eurovision after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that Israel would be allowed to take part.

Ireland joins the Netherlands, which announced in August that it would also withdraw from the 2027 contest. The two countries, along with Spain, Slovenia and Iceland, had already withdrawn from the 2026 edition over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.

The 2026 Eurovision was held in Vienna, Austria, with 35 countries taking part, the lowest number of participants since the contest was expanded in 2004, following the withdrawal of Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia.

The 71st Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Burgas in May 2027, with the final set for May 15.

Ireland has participated in Eurovision since 1965 and has won the contest seven times. The final list of participating countries for the 2027 edition is expected to be announced later this year.

@E.Y.M