Full Breakdown
Ireland Boycotts Eurovision 2027 Over Israel’s Participation
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Decision
Background & Recent Boycotts
The 2027 contest is slated for Burgas, Bulgaria, in May, following Bulgarian singer Dara’s victory in the 2026 edition. Israel, a participant since 1973, has faced mounting criticism over its government’s war in Gaza. The 2024 contest in Malmö and the 2025 edition in Basel both saw pro-Palestinian protests and heightened security. In 2026, Ireland joined the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia and Spain in withdrawing from the competition to protest Israel’s inclusion.
Official Statements & Responses
Eurovision Director Martin Green said the organizers “regret” RTÉ’s decision but “fully respect” it, noting that “All broadcasters decide on an annual basis to participate in the following year’s contest. We will remain in dialogue with RTÉ and hope to welcome them back to the contest in the future.”
Other Broadcasters’ Positions
Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced a similar boycott, describing Eurovision as “a platform for division” and arguing the event can no longer be considered neutral while a participating country is involved in a large-scale military conflict. Iceland, Spain and Slovenia have not yet confirmed whether they will continue their boycott for 2027.
Verbatim Quote
“All broadcasters decide on an annual basis to participate in the following year’s contest. We will remain in dialogue with RTÉ and hope to welcome them back to the contest in the future,” — Martin Green, eurovision director