In a statement released on Thursday, RTÉ stated: “RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation 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.

“RTÉ also remains deeply concerned by the continued denial of independent access to international journalists to the territory.”

The broadcaster also confirmed it won’t be airing the annual competition.

Ireland, seven times winner of Eurovision, did not take part in the 2026 competition, in which Israel participated.

A statement said: “RTÉ is today confirming that its position regarding participation in the Eurovision Song Contest remains unchanged.

“RTÉ will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, nor will RTÉ broadcast the competition.

Eurovision 2027 will be held in Bulgaria

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“RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation 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.

“RTÉ also remains deeply concerned by the continued denial of independent access to international journalists to the territory.”

Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said he hopes to welcome RTÉ back to the competition in future following the news that Ireland will not participate next year.

He said in a response statement: “We regret that RTÉ will not be participating in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, but we fully respect their decision and recognise the huge contribution they have made to the contest.

“They remain a valued part of our family and 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.

“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.

“All broadcasters decide on an annual basis to participate in the following year’s contest.

Bambie Thug was the last Irish performer to represent Ireland at the Song Contest’s finals

“We will remain in dialogue with RTÉ and hope to welcome them back to the contest in the future.”

Just last month, it was announced that rules governing the contest have been overhauled for the 2027 edition, with the European Broadcasting Union announcing that a series of changes for next year’s event.

It has been decided that any winning broadcaster whose country is embroiled in an armed conflict or sensitive geopolitical situation will be automatically barred from staging the following year’s event.

The updated regulations also grant the EBU authority to block hosting rights where any other circumstance materially compromises the security, safety or stability of the victorious nation or its surrounding area.

Ireland Pulls Out of Eurovision for Second Time as RTÉ Releases Statement About Ongoing Gaza Crisis

Ireland has confirmed that it will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, marking the second consecutive year that the country has withdrawn from the competition amid continuing concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Irish public broadcaster RTÉ announced the decision on Thursday, saying its position on participation had not changed. The broadcaster confirmed that Ireland would neither send an entry to the contest nor broadcast the event on Irish television.

The decision comes after months of international debate over Israel’s participation in Eurovision and the extent to which the competition can remain separate from major geopolitical conflicts.

RTÉ said its decision was based primarily on the continuing loss of life in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis affecting civilians there. It also highlighted concerns over restrictions on independent international journalists entering the territory.

The announcement means Ireland will once again be absent from one of Europe’s most watched cultural events.

RTÉ confirms its position

In its statement, RTÉ said that Ireland’s participation in Eurovision could not be justified while the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continued.

The broadcaster also said it remained concerned about the lack of independent access for international journalists to the territory.

The wording is significant because RTÉ’s latest statement does not simply focus on the presence of Israel in the competition. Instead, it places particular emphasis on the humanitarian circumstances surrounding the conflict and the ability of journalists to independently report from Gaza.

RTÉ had already taken the same broad position for the 2026 competition in Vienna.

The broadcaster therefore described the 2027 decision as a continuation of its existing position rather than a completely new policy.

That distinction is important because Eurovision organisers had introduced changes intended to address concerns raised by participating broadcasters.

A second boycott

Ireland was one of five countries that withdrew from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.

Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain also chose not to participate in the Vienna contest, with the broadcasters citing concerns related to Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.

The withdrawals reduced the number of participating countries and generated significant debate across the Eurovision community. RTÉ also chose not to broadcast the 2026 competition.

The decision to stay away again in 2027 therefore represents a continuation of a dispute that has now extended across two Eurovision seasons.

It also raises questions about when, or under what circumstances, Ireland might eventually return.

RTÉ has not suggested that its absence is permanent.

Instead, the broadcaster has maintained that its position reflects the circumstances surrounding the competition at the time participation decisions are made.

Eurovision organisers respond

The European Broadcasting Union, which organises Eurovision, said it regretted RTÉ’s decision but respected it.

Martin Green, the director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said Ireland remained a valued member of the Eurovision community and would be missed.

He also emphasised the role of Eurovision as a cultural event designed to bring broadcasters, performers and audiences from different countries together.

According to Green, the contest’s ability to create connections is particularly important at a time when Europe and the wider world are experiencing deep divisions.

The EBU also said that broadcasters make their own decisions each year about whether to participate in the following year’s competition.

Green indicated that dialogue with RTÉ would continue and expressed hope that Ireland would return in the future.

That response reflects the delicate position facing Eurovision organisers.

The EBU wants to maintain the contest as a major international cultural event while also dealing with the political realities surrounding some of its participating countries.

Changes introduced by the EBU

The controversy has already prompted changes to Eurovision’s rules.

Ahead of the 2027 competition, organisers announced measures concerning voting, promotion and the structure of the contest.

Among the changes were restrictions intended to prevent disproportionate outside influence on voting and stronger controls around promotion. The EBU also introduced a rule stating that broadcasters would not be eligible to host Eurovision if their country was involved in an armed conflict or a sensitive geopolitical situation.

Those changes were intended to address concerns raised by broadcasters and audiences.

However, they have not persuaded every broadcaster that the underlying problem has been resolved.

Ireland’s decision demonstrates that the debate remains active.

The EBU’s position is that Eurovision is primarily a cultural and musical competition, while critics have argued that participation by countries involved in major conflicts inevitably gives the contest a political dimension.

The question of Israel

Israel remains at the centre of the dispute.

The European Broadcasting Union has continued to allow Israel’s public broadcaster KAN to participate, despite calls from some broadcasters and campaigners for Israel to be excluded.

The EBU has faced comparisons with its decision to exclude Russia from Eurovision following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Critics argue that the different approaches amount to inconsistent treatment.

The EBU, however, has maintained its own framework for determining participation and has continued to describe Eurovision as a platform for cultural exchange.

Ireland’s withdrawal therefore represents a disagreement with that approach rather than a decision by the EBU to change the rules specifically for Ireland.

Ireland’s extraordinary Eurovision history

Ireland’s absence is particularly notable because of the country’s remarkable history in the competition.

Ireland has won Eurovision seven times, sharing the record for the most victories with Sweden.

The country’s successes were concentrated heavily in the 1980s and 1990s, including the unprecedented achievement of winning three consecutive contests in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

Ireland’s most recent victory came in 1996, when Eimear Quinn won with The Voice. That means 2026 marked three decades since Ireland last lifted the Eurovision trophy.

The country’s long relationship with Eurovision has made its withdrawal especially noticeable.

For Irish performers and Eurovision fans, the competition has historically been more than simply another television programme.

It has been an important part of Ireland’s popular culture and international musical identity.

That makes two consecutive years outside the competition a significant moment.

A changing Eurovision landscape

The Irish decision also comes at a time when Eurovision itself is changing.

The 2026 contest in Vienna was already affected by multiple withdrawals. Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain all stayed away, creating one of the smallest fields since the competition expanded to include more countries in the early 2000s.

The 2027 contest is scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, after Bulgaria secured its first Eurovision victory in 2026.

Ireland will not be part of that contest unless RTÉ changes its position before the event.

The absence of one of Eurovision’s historically most successful countries will inevitably be noticed by viewers and organisers alike.

It also raises the possibility of further political disagreements if other broadcasters reach similar conclusions.

The Netherlands has already confirmed that it will not participate in 2027. Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS said Eurovision could no longer be regarded as a neutral event while Israel remained involved in the context of the conflict.

A debate that extends beyond music

The Eurovision controversy illustrates how difficult it can be to separate culture from politics.

The competition was created as a way of bringing European broadcasters and audiences together through music. Yet the participating countries are represented by national broadcasters, meaning major international disputes can inevitably affect the contest.

For supporters of Eurovision’s traditional role, keeping the competition open to performers from different countries is part of its purpose.

For broadcasters such as RTÉ, participation can raise difficult questions about whether appearing alongside a country involved in a major conflict is compatible with their public-service responsibilities.

Those competing perspectives have not been reconciled.

RTÉ’s latest decision makes clear that the broadcaster continues to regard the Gaza situation as sufficiently serious to justify another year outside the contest.

The EBU, meanwhile, continues to emphasise Eurovision’s ability to create cultural connections despite political divisions.

What happens next?

For now, Ireland’s Eurovision future remains uncertain.

RTÉ has not announced a timetable for returning to the contest.

The broadcaster’s decision will likely remain connected to developments in Gaza, the wider political situation and the policies adopted by Eurovision organisers.

The EBU has made clear that it wants to keep communication open.

That leaves the possibility of Ireland returning in a future year if RTÉ concludes that the circumstances have changed sufficiently.

For Irish Eurovision fans, however, the immediate reality is clear.

There will be no Irish entry in the 2027 competition, and Irish television viewers will not see the contest broadcast by RTÉ.

The decision marks another extraordinary chapter in a country that has historically played one of the biggest roles in Eurovision.

Ireland’s seven victories remain part of the competition’s history, but for the second year running, its contribution will be missing from the stage.

The decision also demonstrates the continuing difficulty of keeping a major international cultural event insulated from global political events.

Eurovision organisers want music to provide a space for connection and shared entertainment. RTÉ has concluded that, under the present circumstances, participation would not be appropriate.

As the 2027 contest approaches, the debate over Eurovision, political neutrality and the war in Gaza is therefore unlikely to disappear.

Ireland’s withdrawal is not simply the story of one country missing a music competition.

It is another sign of how deeply international conflicts can reach into cultural institutions that were originally designed to bring people together.