Ireland to Boycott Eurovision for Second Consecutive Year Over Israel’s Participation

Ireland will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, marking the second consecutive year the country has boycotted the competition over Israel’s inclusion.

Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, announced the decision on Thursday, saying the country’s participation could not be justified amid what it described as the “appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza.”

RTÉ also expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the continued lack of independent access for international journalists to the territory.

Ireland was among five countries that withdrew from the 2026 Eurovision contest in Vienna, Austria. The Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia and Iceland were the other countries that did not participate.

The Netherlands has also announced that it will boycott the 2027 competition, with its public broadcaster AVROTROS saying Eurovision could no longer be considered neutral while Israel remains involved in the contest.

Earlier this month, Eurovision organisers announced that countries involved in armed conflicts would be barred from hosting the competition.

The European Broadcasting Union, which organises Eurovision, said it respected Ireland’s decision. Eurovision Director Martin Green said Ireland and its artists would be missed, stressing the contest’s role in bringing people together through music and creativity.

The decision has received support from Sinn Féin, Ireland’s main opposition party. Its spokesperson for Culture, Communications and Sport, Joanna Byrne, welcomed the boycott and criticised Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

The European Broadcasting Union has previously faced criticism over its decision to allow Israel to participate, particularly in comparison with its 2022 decision to ban Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, won by Bulgaria, attracted about 132 million viewers worldwide, according to the organisers. Thousands of protesters also demonstrated in Vienna during the final against Israel’s participation.

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