Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS boycotts Eurovision 2027 over Israel

Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS boycotts Eurovision 2027 over Israel

The Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS has announced it will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, arguing that the event can no longer be considered neutral due to the actions of Israel in Gaza.

The decision, announced Monday, August 24, 2026, follows a previous boycott of the 2026 competition held in Vienna. AVROTROS cited the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East as a primary driver for its exit, stating that international conflicts are undermining the contest's neutral character.

"It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character. The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division."

Taco Zimmerman, director-general of AVROTROS, via extra.ie

The broadcaster pointed to restrictions on press freedom and a severe humanitarian crisis inflicted by Israel on Gaza as central to its position. Zimmerman noted that stepping away from an event very close to our hearts was painful, but necessary to remain committed to the broadcaster's values.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) recently implemented rule changes stating that countries involved in an armed conflict will no longer be eligible to host the contest, even in the event of a win. However, AVROTROS stated these measures have not provided sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the event could be restored.

The Netherlands' absence marks the second consecutive year the country will sit out the competition. During the 2026 contest in Vienna, the Netherlands joined Iceland, Slovenia, Spain, and Ireland in boycotting the event over Israel's inclusion. In that instance, Ireland's RTE confirmed it would neither broadcast nor participate after the EBU allowed the Israeli broadcaster KAN to compete.

The conflict surrounding Israel's participation has extended beyond broadcaster boycotts. Some have alleged that Israel, which finished second in both the 2025 and 2026 contests, cheated or abused the voting system. Additionally, Nemo, the winner of the previous contest for Switzerland, said he is returning his trophy to protest Israel's continued participation.

While AVROTROS has traditionally been the entity responsible for the contest in the Netherlands, it has formally returned the responsibility for any Dutch entry to the national public broadcasting organisation, NPO. NPO has expressed understanding of the decision. It is now up to NPO to decide if the Netherlands will remain absent or if another station will be found to select an entry and broadcast the competition.

Similar uncertainty remains in Ireland. In May, RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst stated there was no reason at the moment to change the position held last year, though RTE has not yet officially confirmed its status for 2027.

The 2026 contest was won by Bulgaria, meaning the 2027 edition will be hosted in the Black Sea city of Burgas. The final is scheduled for May 15, 2027.

The EBU is expected to announce the final list of participating countries and broadcasters later this year.