Ireland boycotts Eurovision again in 2027 over Gaza war
Irish public broadcaster RTÉ has announced the country's withdrawal from the contest for the second consecutive year, citing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Irish public audiovisual group RTÉ announced on Thursday that Ireland will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, according to reports cited by France 24. This decision follows the country's absence from the 2026 contest for the same reasons.
According to RTÉ, the withdrawal is motivated by the situation in Gaza, with the broadcaster describing the loss of life as "horrific" and pointing to a persistent humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Ireland is not the only country to have made such a decision. The Netherlands had previously announced its own boycott of the contest, also citing the war in Gaza, according to the same report.
These withdrawals come at a time when several voices within European public broadcasters have expressed reservations about Israel's participation in Eurovision, due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Neither the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision, nor Israel have publicly responded to this announcement, based on available information.
Sources
- Après les Pays-Bas, l'Irlande boycotte à nouveau l'Eurovision en raison de la guerre à Gaza — France 24 — Français
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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