Ireland has become the second country after the Netherlands to announce a boycott of the upcoming Eurovision contest due to Israel‘s participation. The Irish public broadcaster RTÉ stated on Thursday that the country’s participation is impossible to justify given the «horrific and ongoing loss of life in Gaza» and that the humanitarian crisis «continues to put the lives of many civilians at risk».
RTÉ, which is responsible for selecting the representative and managing Ireland‘s participation in Eurovision, also expressed «deep concern» over the continued restrictions on international journalists’ access to the territory. This decision means that Ireland will not participate in or broadcast the world’s most popular televised music show for the second year in a row.
The position of the Netherlands and contest organizers
Earlier this month, Eurovision organizers stated that countries involved in armed conflict would not be permitted to host the contest. However, the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS called this decision «insufficient». Last month, AVROTROS announced it would not participate in the 2027 contest, stating that Eurovision «can no longer be considered neutral» due to Israel‘s participation in a «large-scale military conflict» in Gaza.
Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, and Iceland were among the five countries that did not participate in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. Contest Director Martin Green noted on Thursday that organizers «fully respect» Ireland‘s decision and that the country «will be missed». According to Martin Green, Eurovision is at its best when broadcasters and artists from different countries come together to share music, celebrate creativity, and build connections between audiences. He added that this ability to unite people is especially important in a world that is becoming increasingly «complex and divided».
The 2026 show, won by Bulgaria, drew 132 million viewers—34 million fewer than in 2025. During the final in mid-May, thousands of protesters gathered outside the venue in the Austrian capital to oppose Israel‘s participation. The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the contest, has faced accusations of double standards for refusing to exclude Israel, despite having excluded Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Source: Al Jazeera
