What's Another Year? Ireland to boycott Eurovision again

It may be billed as the largest live music event in the world but the statement from RTÉ today confirming that Ireland will not take part in the next Eurovision Song Contest which due to be held on Bulgaria in 2027 came as a no big surprise.

Last year, RTÉ made headlines along with four fellow European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members, Spain's public broadcaster RTVE, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, Iceland's RUV and RTV Slovenia who all announced their decision in December last to boycott Vienna in May 2026 for the 70th anniversary.

For Ireland in particular, this was a momentous chapter in its unique history with Eurovision since its debut in 1965.

The country continues to share the record with Sweden for most victories at the contest, having topped the leaderboard seven times.

But while Ireland may still be the only country to have also won three times in a row (1992,1993 and 1994) the sobering reality is that this year marks three decades since Ireland last won the top prize.

It is now 30 years since Eimear Quinn won Ireland's seventh Eurovision with the song, "The Voice" in 1996.

Now, for 2027, Ireland is boycotting the contest for the second time running and who knows when, how and if it will return?

In the statement today, RTÉ said that the EBU has tried formally to address broadcasters’ concerns over the participation of Israel, publishing key changes that the Eurovision organisers would implement.

The amendments included measures such as the return of juries to semi-finals, a cap on votes from 20 to 10 per voting method and stronger limits on promotion to curb disproportionate third-party influence, (including government-backed campaigns).

Concerns rumbled on though and last month, the EBU announced that broadcasters would no longer be eligible to host the Eurovision Song Contest if their state was involved in an "armed conflict" or in a "sensitive geopolitical situation".

In RTÉ's statement today, ahead of the deadline to confirm participation in Eurovision 2027, the broadcaster said its position on participation "remains unchanged", citing the ongoing loss of life in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there.

RTÉ also said it remains "deeply concerned" by the continued denial of independent access to international journalists to the territory.

Responding to RTÉ decision, Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green said the EBU regretted that the broadcaster would not be participating in 2027, but that they "fully respect their decision".

"They remain a valued part of our family and will be missed," he said, adding that the EBU would remain in dialogue with RTÉ.

While Mr Green may regret RTÉ's decision, the impact of the ongoing conflict in Gaza is visible across the wider music community in Ireland, especially over the last 48 hours.

It comes following the confirmation that all support acts on Ed Sheeran's US tour have dropped out after Macklemore was dropped for his on stage comments calling for a "Free Palestine".

The acclaimed Irish trad group Beoga, who were joining Ed Sheeran on stage for this massive stadium tour, and singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe each confirmed yesterday that they had withdrawn from the tour to stand in solidarity with Macklemore.

Both issued poignant statements, noting the singer's support for their careers in recent years but confirmed that they would no longer participate in the Loop tour. The decision has clearly come at a cost to them, but both were unequivocal in their support for Macklemore's position.

But back to the glitter and sparkle of the Eurovision, and for two years in a row now, RTÉ is neither participating in nor broadcasting the biggest live music event in the world, so does this mark the end of Ireland's golden Eurovision history?

Martin Green says that dialogue with RTÉ is always ongoing and that the EBU is a family but today, the relationship has grown a little bit more distant.