Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing the Israel-Hamas War and a “lack of neutrality” within the Eurovision Broadcasting Union (EBU), it announced on Monday.
According to AVROTROS director-general Taco Zimmerman, “The Eurovision Song Contest was originally created to bring people and countries together. It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest, undermining its neutral character.”
The broadcaster noted that it had returned responsibility for Dutch participation in Eurovision to the NPO. This organization oversees the overall Dutch public broadcasting system.
Dutch broadcaster demands clear framework for participation assessment
NPO is set to decide whether another state broadcaster will take over broadcasting Eurovision.
AVROTROS said that it needed a clear framework to assess which countries involved in military conflicts would be allowed to participate in the competition.
“As a public broadcaster, we remain committed to our values,” Zimmerman said. “They guide us in everything we do, even when that means stepping away from an event that is very close to our hearts. That is painful, as we would have very much liked to be part of the contest again next year.”
The Netherlands was among the countries that withdrew from the 2026 Eurovision competition due to Israel’s participation, alongside Spain, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia.