The Netherlands Will Not Return For Eurovision 2027 Over Israel Controversy

The Dutch broadcaster Avrotros has confirmed that The Netherlands will not be returning to the Eurovision Song Contest next year.

The Netherlands was one of five countries to withdraw from Eurovision ahead of this year’s contest in solidarity with Palestine, after it was confirmed that Israel would be returning in 2026.

On Monday morning, an Avrotros rep confirmed that the broadcaster would be following suit at next year’s event.

“Avrotros will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 because the event can no longer be considered neutral, with a participating country still involved in a large-scale military conflict,” they said. “Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are having a significant impact on the Contest and have led to deep divisions.

“Over the past year, Avrotros has called on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to establish transparent rules for the participation of countries involved in military conflicts. However, the recently announced changes by the EBU do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored.

“Participation is therefore no longer consistent with the values of Avrotros: trustworthiness, independence and humanity.”

This update comes after Eurovision refreshed its rules to state that any country involved in an “armed conflict” could no longer serve as a host of the contest, even if they win at the previous year’s event.

Last year, The Netherlands was the first of five countries to announce it would be pulling out of Eurovision, shortly after the decision was reached to invite Israel back for the 2026 contest.

“Under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation,” they said at the time.

Following this, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia’s national broadcasters all announced they’d be doing the same, with Iceland’s following suit around a week later.

The director general of Ireland’s RTÉ said in May that a decision about the country’s Eurovision future had not yet been made, but noted: “For us as a public service broadcaster, who believes in the importance of protecting journalists and believes in human rights, there’s no reason at the moment to change our decision but we will review it in the coming months.”

Meanwhile, Belgian broadcaster VRT has also cast doubt on its own participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Eurovision will take place in Bulgaria for the first time in 2027, following Dara’s win with her song Bangaranga.

Israel finished in second place in this year’s competition, for the second time in a row, having also come out on top in the televoting.