Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ declared that the country will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, marking the second consecutive year of boycott. The decision follows Ireland’s non-participation in the current year’s competition, when five nations—Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia—declined to compete in protest against Israel’s involvement in the event.
RTÉ stated that participation cannot be justified given what it characterized as the continuing loss of life in Gaza and the associated humanitarian crisis. The Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros also announced its own boycott, arguing that Eurovision can no longer be considered a neutral platform given the participation of a country involved in large-scale military conflict. The European Broadcasting Union indicated it is in discussions with other Dutch broadcasters in hopes that one of the country’s alternative public service television stations may participate instead.
The competition’s leadership has expressed regret over the boycotts. Eurovision director Martin Green stated that RTÉ remains valued and will be missed, emphasizing that the contest’s ability to unite people is particularly important in an increasingly divided world. He noted that all broadcasters make annual decisions regarding participation and expressed hope for RTÉ’s future return.
The EBU has taken steps to address broadcaster concerns surrounding Israel’s participation. Earlier, the organization reduced the number of votes that individual members of the public could submit online or by telephone following allegations of disproportionate voting campaigns. Additionally, the EBU recently implemented a new policy prohibiting broadcasters located in states involved in armed conflicts or sensitive geopolitical situations from hosting the competition.
The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, following that nation’s first-ever victory in the competition. Israel has been a participant in Eurovision since 1973, and the country’s involvement has generated ongoing protests at competition venues in recent years.
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