Ireland Confirms No Eurovision 2027 Participation Amid Gaza Conflict Concerns

Irish broadcaster RTÉ announced on Thursday that Ireland will not participate in or broadcast the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. The broadcaster stated its position on participation remains unchanged, citing concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there. RTÉ also expressed worry about the lack of independent access for international journalists to the region.

This decision follows Ireland's withdrawal from the 2026 contest, which was held in Vienna. That withdrawal occurred after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) approved the participation of Israel's public broadcaster, Kan. Ireland was among five countries, including Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, that did not compete in the most recent contest.

The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, with the final on May 15 and semifinals on May 11 and 13. Bulgaria earned hosting rights after DARA's victory in the 2026 contest, the country's first win.

Similarly, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS also announced its non-participation in the 2027 contest. Responsibility for future Dutch participation decisions now rests with the country's public broadcasting umbrella organization, NPO. The EBU has not yet released the final list of participating countries.

Martin Österdahl, Eurovision's executive supervisor, previously expressed hope for the return of withdrawing broadcasters. He noted the EBU's stance that Kan is not responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, while acknowledging the reservations of the non-participating broadcasters. Ireland, a participant since 1965, has won Eurovision seven times, with its last victory in 1996.