Will Ireland return for Eurovision 2027?

Ireland has yet to confirm whether it will return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, with broadcaster RTÉ saying it will make a decision "in due course".

Ireland was absent from Eurovision for the first time in more than four decades this year after RTÉ withdrew from the 2026 Contest over Israel's participation.

RTÉ was one of five broadcasters to pull out, alongside Spain's RTVE, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, Iceland's RÚV and RTV Slovenia. RTÉ also chose not to broadcast the Contest from Vienna.

At the time, RTÉ said Ireland's participation remained "unconscionable" because of the loss of life and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It also raised concerns about the killing of journalists and restrictions on international journalists entering the territory.

Decisions are now being made by broadcasters leading to questions over Ireland's place in next year's Contest.

AVROTROS rules itself out for 2027

The Dutch broadcaster AVROTOS, which also withdrew from the 2026 Contest, said recent changes announced by the European Broadcasting Union had not gone far enough to address its concerns.

AVROTROS said Eurovision could no longer be considered neutral while a participating country remained involved in a large-scale military conflict, and said the EBU's changes had not provided sufficient confidence that the Contest's "independent and neutral character" had been restored.

Importantly, the announcement relates to AVROTROS itself. It does not necessarily confirm that the Netherlands as a country will be absent from Eurovision 2027.

The EBU recently announced a number of changes to the rules for 2027, including making a winning broadcaster automatically ineligible to host the following Contest if its country is involved in an "armed conflict" or "sensitive geopolitical situation". The changes do not prevent such countries from competing.

RTÉ: decision will be made "in due course"

RTÉ has now responded to questions about its own plans following the recent EBU changes.

A spokesperson told The Irish Sun:

"We note the recent changes announced by the EBU regarding the Eurovision Song Contest. RTÉ will be making a decision regarding its participation in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in due course."

The statement leaves Ireland's participation open for now, with no official decision yet made.

RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst had already indicated in May that the broadcaster would reconsider its position ahead of 2027.

At the time, Bakhurst said there was "no reason at the moment" to change RTÉ's position, but said it would be reviewed in the coming months.

Éirevision says a return remains unlikely

While RTÉ has stopped short of revealing which way it is leaning, Éirevision Podcast says it understands an Irish return remains "highly unlikely".

The Irish Eurovision podcast, which has close ties to RTÉ and the Irish delegation, reported:

"Éirevision understands a return remains highly unlikely, with little change in the circumstances surrounding Ireland's withdrawal."

Éirevision also pointed to Bakhurst's comments in May and said an official decision from RTÉ is expected in the coming months.

For now, Ireland therefore remains undecided for Eurovision 2027.

The key question will be whether RTÉ considers the EBU's changes sufficient to address the concerns that led it to withdraw from the Contest in 2026.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2027 will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, on May 11, 13 and 15.

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