Ireland Announces Eurovision Boycott Over Israel's Continued Participation

Ireland has officially become the second nation, following the Netherlands, to confirm a boycott of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel's involvement in the event.

In an official statement released on Thursday, Irish public broadcaster RTE stated that the nation's involvement was unjustifiable "given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza" and emphasized that the worsening humanitarian crisis "continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk." RTE, which oversees Ireland’s selection process and participation, also noted its ongoing anxiety regarding "the continued denial of independent access [for] international journalists to the territory."

This development means Ireland will skip both participation and broadcasting of the world's most popular television music show for the second consecutive year.

Earlier this month, Eurovision organisers announced that any country involved in an armed conflict would be barred from hosting the competition. However, Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros criticized the measure as inadequate. Avrotros previously declared its withdrawal from the 2027 competition last month, arguing that Eurovision could "no longer be considered neutral" while Israel remains engaged in "a large-scale military conflict" in Gaza.

Ireland and the Netherlands were originally part of a five-country group that opted out of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna earlier this year, alongside Spain, Slovenia, and Iceland.

Responding to the announcement, Eurovision Director Martin Green stated on Thursday that organisers "fully respect" Ireland’s choice and noted that the country "will be missed."

"The Eurovision Song Contest is at its best when broadcasters and their artists from different countries come together to share music, celebrate creativity and create connections between audiences," Green remarked, adding that this unifying power remains vital in a divided world.

The 2026 event, ultimately won by Bulgaria, drew 132 million viewers, marking a decrease of 34 million from the 2025 edition. During the mid-May final in Vienna, thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the venue to protest Israel's presence in the contest.

The European Broadcasting Union, which manages the annual music competition, has faced widespread criticism for alleged double standards over its refusal to exclude Israel, despite having banned Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.