The Netherlands will not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced, saying the competition can “no longer be considered neutral” amid continuing divisions over the war in Gaza and Israel’s participation.
AVROTROS, which also boycotted this year’s contest in Vienna, said geopolitical tensions in the Middle East were increasingly affecting Eurovision and undermining what it described as the event’s neutral character.
Noam Bettan
(Photo: Yuval Chen)
“It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character,” AVROTROS Director-General Taco Zimmerman said. “The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division.”
The broadcaster had previously cited the humanitarian situation in Gaza and concerns over press freedom when explaining its decision not to participate in Eurovision 2026.
AVROTROS said changes introduced by the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, had failed to provide sufficient confidence that the contest’s “independent and neutral character” could be restored.
The broadcaster has informed Dutch public broadcaster NPO of its decision and returned responsibility for the Netherlands’ future Eurovision participation to the organization. NPO will now decide how the country proceeds for the 2027 contest.
Boycott continues into second year
The Netherlands was one of five countries, alongside Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Iceland, that did not take part in Eurovision 2026 following controversy surrounding Israel’s participation.
The Dutch decision indicates that the dispute over Israel’s presence in the competition is set to continue into another Eurovision season, despite efforts by organizers to address concerns raised by participating broadcasters.
AVROTROS said those efforts had not gone far enough to persuade it to return.
Eurovision heads to Bulgaria
The 71st Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, in May 2027, with the Grand Final set for May 15.
The final list of participating broadcasters and countries is expected to be announced later this year.
For the Netherlands, however, AVROTROS has already made clear that it will not be among them under its current position, extending a boycott that began with the 2026 contest.