The Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS announced on August 24, 2026 that it will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, citing the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
DR reports that the broadcaster set out its decision in a press release on Monday. AVROTROS stated that the contest can no longer be considered neutral when a participating country remains involved in a large-scale military conflict.
According to Nieuws.nl, the broadcaster said geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have too much impact on the event and have created great division. The Dutch outlet adds that AVROTROS sees too few starting points for a return and has handed responsibility for Eurovision back to the public broadcasting umbrella NPO.
The Netherlands also stayed away from the 2026 contest, which was held in May. Per DR, that boycott was carried out alongside Ireland, Slovenia, Spain and Iceland, with Israel’s participation given as the reason in each case.
NPR reported in December 2025 that AVROTROS and three other broadcasters withdrew from the 2026 edition after the European Broadcasting Union allowed Israel to compete. As stated by AVROTROS at the time, Israel’s participation was no longer compatible with the responsibility it carries as a public broadcaster.
Al Jazeera reported on August 13, 2026 that the EBU had adopted new rules on participation and hosting. Countries involved in armed conflict or a sensitive geopolitical situation cannot host the contest, but they may still compete, leaving Israel eligible.
Per Nieuws.nl, AVROTROS had pressed the EBU for transparent rules on countries in military conflict. The broadcaster says the recent changes do not give sufficient confidence that the contest’s independent and neutral character can be restored.
Al Jazeera has also noted AVROTROS’ earlier accusations of proven interference by Israel in a previous contest and what the broadcaster described as a serious violation of press freedom during the Gaza war. Those claims formed part of the reasoning behind the Dutch withdrawal from the 2026 edition.
Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Bulgaria on May 11, 13 and 15, DR reports. A full Dutch absence is not yet settled, since another Dutch public service channel can in principle take over Eurovision responsibility from AVROTROS.
Nieuws.nl adds that any decision on Dutch participation in 2027 now rests with NPO. No decision from the umbrella organization has been reported, and the EBU has not commented publicly on the Dutch announcement.
