Ireland Set to Boycott Eurovision 2027 Over Israel's Participation
RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster, confirmed Thursday it will not enter or air the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. The decision cites what RTÉ calls the "appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza."
- 5 countries — Ireland, Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia, Spain — skipped Eurovision in 2026.
- Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced its own 2027 boycott last month.
- Israel finished second in the 2026 contest; European broadcasters voted to allow its participation.
- Gaza's health ministry reports 1,369 Palestinians killed since a ceasefire took effect October 11, 2025.
Why it matters: RTÉ's withdrawal means at least two broadcasters will be absent from an event built around pan-European participation. Each new boycott raises pressure on the European Broadcasting Union over Israel's status in the competition.
- RTÉ also cited the "continued denial of independent access to international journalists" in Gaza.
- The EBU recently barred future host countries involved in armed conflict or a "sensitive geopolitical situation."
How 14 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage divides on whether the boycotts reflect legitimate humanitarian concern or a politically motivated exclusion of Israel from a nominally apolitical contest.
Center coverage, 10 sources: The center presents the boycott as a straightforward news event, reporting RTÉ's statement and Eurovision's response without framing either side's position as more valid.
Deadline4hIreland Boycotts Eurovision Again Over “Appalling Loss Of Lives In Gaza”CNCTV News3hIreland’s national broadcaster will boycott 2027 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation
France 245hIreland to boycott 2027 Eurovision contest over Israel’s participation
Associated Press5hIreland’s national broadcaster will boycott 2027 Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation
BBC News5hEurovision: Ireland boycotts contest for second year in a row
Jerusalem Post1hIreland will not participate in 2027 Eurovision, broadcaster announces, citing situation in GazaPenPennLive3hIreland to boycott 2027 Eurovision contest over Israel’s participation
Reuters5hIreland will not participate in Eurovision 2027, RTE says
Sky News4hIreland to boycott Eurovision for second year in a rowTITimes of Israel2hIreland says it will again boycott Eurovision in 2027 over Israel’s participationLeft coverage, 3 sources: The left frames RTÉ's decision as a principled humanitarian stand against civilian deaths and a blocked press, giving full weight to Gaza casualty figures and the ongoing ceasefire violations.
Right coverage, 1 sources: The right reports the boycott factually but gives more context to Israel's long history in Eurovision and the political pressure campaign against its participation.
What’s next: The Eurovision final is set for May 15, 2027, at Arena Burgas in Bulgaria.
- Eurovision director Martin Green said the EBU will "remain in dialogue" with RTÉ.
- Will other 2026 boycotting countries — Iceland, Slovenia, Spain — also withdraw from 2027?
- Will the EBU take any additional steps to address participating broadcasters' concerns before the 2027 contest?