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.
Shortly after RTÉ announced its decision, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) issued a statement in response.
Martin Green, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, says that the EBU regrets RTÉ's decision and will remain in dialogue with the broadcaster, hoping to welcome RTÉ back to the contest in the future.
ADDED 17 September 2026, 15:54 CEST
EBU Statement
We regret that RTÉ will not be participating in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, but we fully respect their decision and recognize 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. We will remain in dialogue with RTÉ and hope to welcome them back to the Contest in the future.
Martin Green CBE, Director Eurovision Song Contest
Source: EBU
Ireland also withdrew from Eurovision 2026 in Vienna after the 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.
