Ireland will not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, as confirmed by its public broadcaster, RTÉ. This decision is attributed to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and civilian casualties in Gaza. RTÉ emphasized that participating in the contest would be unjustifiable under the current circumstances, reiterating its concerns over the restricted access for international journalists to the region.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), responsible for organizing Eurovision, acknowledged Ireland’s decision and expressed hope for the country’s future participation. Last year, Ireland, alongside the Netherlands, Spain, Iceland, and Slovenia, boycotted the 2026 Eurovision following the EBU’s controversial decision to include Israel in the competition.
The Netherlands has similarly indicated it will not take part in the 2027 contest, although Dutch broadcasters are exploring the possibility of another broadcaster stepping in. Meanwhile, Spain, Iceland, and Slovenia have yet to publicly announce their plans regarding the event.
The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is slated to be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, in May. As the situation in Gaza continues to influence international relations, the participation of countries in high-profile events like Eurovision remains closely watched.