Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ has announced it will not compete in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing the devastating and continuing loss of civilian life in Gaza. The decision, confirmed on Thursday, makes Ireland the second European broadcaster in consecutive years to withdraw from the prestigious music competition on political grounds. The Netherlands’ Avrotros has also ruled out participation, describing the event as a “platform for division.”
Next year’s contest is scheduled to take place in the Black Sea coastal city of Burgas, Bulgaria, after the country secured its first-ever victory in May.
A Pattern of Protest Across Europe
Ireland’s absence from the 2025 competition was part of a wider continental push, with Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia joining Dublin in refusing to take part. RTÉ reiterated its position on Thursday, stating that Ireland’s involvement “cannot be justified given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”
The Dutch broadcaster Avrotros echoed these sentiments last month, asserting that Eurovision “can no longer be considered neutral, with a participating country still involved in a large-scale military conflict.” The two declarations together signal a hardening stance among European public service broadcasters regarding the competition’s geopolitical dimensions.
It is worth noting that Norwegian singer Emmy represented Ireland at the 2025 contest, held at the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland — though Dublin ultimately chose not to perform.
The EBU Navigates Uncharted Territory
The European Broadcasting Union, which oversees the competition, has found itself under enormous pressure to reconcile competing viewpoints among its membership. Martin Green, Eurovision’s director, expressed his regret at RTÉ’s withdrawal while stressing the broadcaster’s enduring importance to the event.
“They remain a valued part of our family and will be missed,” Green said. “That power to bring people together is at the heart of what makes the contest so special and is even more important now in an increasingly difficult and divided world.”
He added that all broadcasters decide annually on participation and confirmed that the EBU would remain in dialogue with RTÉ, hoping to welcome Ireland back in future years. The organisation is also reportedly in negotiations with other Dutch public service television stations, hoping one may step in to fill the gap left by Avrotros.
Rule Changes and Controversy
Eurovision has faced mounting scrutiny over Israel’s participation, which has drawn protests both inside and outside venues since the country first entered the competition in 1973. In response to broadcaster concerns, the EBU has introduced two significant policy adjustments in recent months.
Last year, it reduced the number of votes an individual could submit online or by telephone, following allegations that Israel had orchestrated a disproportionate campaign to mobilise public support. More recently, the EBU unveiled a new hosting restriction: broadcasters whose countries are engaged in an “armed conflict” or a “sensitive geopolitical situation” will no longer be eligible to stage the event.
These measures have not satisfied all critics. In 2024, the European Commission intervened in an unusual fashion after organisers prohibited audience members from displaying the EU flag during the grand final in Sweden. The Commission described the ban as “mind-blowing” and “regrettable,” underscoring the fraught relationship between cultural events and political expression.
The Humanitarian Context
Palestinian authorities report that more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which was launched after Hamas-led fighters killed approximately 1,200 people during an attack on southern Israel in October 2023. A US-brokered ceasefire agreed last year stipulates the eventual reconstruction of the territory, yet Israeli strikes have persisted. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 1,369 Palestinians have been killed and 4,627 wounded since the fragile truce took effect on 11 October 2025.
Against this backdrop, the decision by major European broadcasters to step back from Eurovision carries considerable weight. These are not frivolous withdrawals; they reflect genuine moral anguish at a crisis that continues to claim civilian lives on a staggering scale.
Why it Matters
The boycott raises fundamental questions about the role of international cultural institutions in an era of geopolitical conflict. Eurovision has long marketed itself as a unifying force — a stage where differences are set aside in favour of music and solidarity. Yet when civilian populations suffer catastrophic harm, the notion of artistic neutrality becomes increasingly difficult to defend. Ireland and the Netherlands have drawn a clear line, and their decisions will inevitably prompt other broadcasters across the continent to weigh whether continued participation aligns with their public service values or their conscience.