Ireland will not participate in Eurovision 2027
Irish broadcaster RTÉ has confirmed that Ireland will not take part in or broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest 2027
Ireland will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, Irish broadcaster RTÉ has confirmed. The broadcaster will also not broadcast the contest.
RTÉ says its position on participation “remains unchanged”, citing the ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there.
The broadcaster also says it remains “deeply concerned” by the continued denial of independent access to international journalists to Gaza.
RTÉ Statement
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.
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.
Ireland also withdrew from Eurovision 2026 in Vienna after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that Israeli public broadcaster KAN would be allowed to participate. RTÉ did not broadcast the 2026 contest either.
Ireland was one of five countries that withdrew from Eurovision 2026, alongside Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain.
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Ireland holds the record for the most victories in the Eurovision Song Contest together with Sweden: Seven victories! Six of these victories were in the '80s and '90s:
- 1970: Dana – All Kinds Of Everything
- 1980: Johnny Logan – What's Another Year
- 1987: Johnny Logan – Hold Me Now
- 1992: Linda Martin – Why Me
- 1993: Niamh Kavanagh – In Your Eyes
- 1994: Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan – Rock 'n' Roll Kids
- 1996: Eimear Quinn – The Voice
Ireland has been part of Eurovision since 1965, with 58 appearances since then. They have qualified for the Grand Final 9 out of 21 times since the introduction of the Semi-finals in 2004. They finished last in their Semi-finals in 2019 and 2021.
