Ireland has decided to skip the Eurovision Song Contest again, this time citing the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Public broadcaster RTE announced Thursday that Ireland will neither participate in nor broadcast the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. The decision follows Ireland’s withdrawal from the 2026 competition over Israel’s participation.
RTE said the ongoing loss of civilian lives in Gaza made Ireland’s involvement difficult to justify. The broadcaster also pointed to the continuing humanitarian crisis affecting civilians in the region.
Ireland Announces Eurovision 2027 Boycott
RTE, which oversees Ireland’s participation and selection process, confirmed the country’s decision in a statement.
“RTE will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTE broadcast the competition,” the broadcaster said.
It also explained the reasoning behind the decision.
“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,” the statement said.
As a result, Ireland will miss the world’s biggest live televised music event for a second consecutive year.
Netherlands Also Skips Eurovision 2027
Ireland will not be alone in staying away from next year’s contest. The Netherlands has also announced that it will skip Eurovision 2027.
Dutch broadcaster officials said recent measures by Eurovision organisers did not go far enough. They argued that excluding countries involved in armed conflicts from hosting the competition was not sufficient.
The Dutch broadcaster also said Eurovision could “no longer be considered neutral” because of divisions surrounding the Gaza conflict.
Meanwhile, Eurovision organisers earlier announced that countries involved in an armed conflict would be excluded from hosting the competition.
Israel’s Eurovision Participation Remains Controversial
Israel has been involved in the Gaza war since 2023 and came close to winning Eurovision in both 2025 and 2026.
The country finished second in each of those competitions. However, its participation has continued to generate controversy among several participating countries.
Ireland, the Netherlands and other countries have previously raised concerns over Israel’s involvement in the contest.
The issue became particularly prominent during the 2026 competition, when several countries withdrew in protest against Israel’s participation.
Five Countries Boycotted Eurovision 2026
The 2026 Eurovision contest faced a significant boycott over Israel’s participation. The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all withdrew from the competition.
Moreover, Iceland, Spain and Slovenia also refused to broadcast the event.
The boycott affected the contest’s television audience as well. Eurovision organisers recorded 131 million viewers for this year’s competition.
That figure was 35 million lower than the previous year. Therefore, the controversy surrounding Israel’s participation came amid a notable decline in the event’s audience.
Eurovision’s Global Cultural Influence
Since its launch in 1955, Eurovision has developed into one of the world’s most prominent televised music competitions.
The event has also played a major role in launching international music careers. Swedish group ABBA, for example, gained worldwide fame after winning the contest.
Over the decades, Eurovision has also helped boost the international profiles of artists including Celine Dion, Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John.
However, the competition has increasingly faced political controversies alongside its cultural significance.
When Will Eurovision 2027 Take Place?
Despite the withdrawals, Eurovision 2027 is scheduled to go ahead in Bulgaria.
The contest will take place on May 15 in Burgas, a city on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast.
Ireland’s decision means viewers in the country will not receive a broadcast of next year’s competition. At the same time, the Netherlands will also remain outside the event.
The latest withdrawals add another chapter to the growing debate surrounding Eurovision’s participation rules and its handling of international conflicts.
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