{"id":39971,"date":"2026-08-24T11:56:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T11:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/netherlands\/39971\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T11:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T11:56:09","slug":"the-netherlands-boycott-eurovision-2027-as-public-broadcaster-withdraws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/netherlands\/39971\/","title":{"rendered":"The Netherlands boycott Eurovision 2027 as public broadcaster withdraws"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"A
\n\t\tThe 2027 iteration of Eurovision will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria (Picture: Shutterstock\/DirkVG)<\/p>\n

Dutch broadcaster AvroTros will boycott next year\u2019s Eurovision Song Contest<\/a>, in protest over Israel\u2019s participation amid the \u2018severe humanitarian suffering\u2019 inflicted on Gaza.<\/p>\n

The public service broadcaster, which is part of the NPO, an umbrella organisation for the Dutch public broadcasting system, cited the recent Eurovision rule changes in the decision. <\/p>\n

Ahead of the 2027 contest \u2013 which will take place in Burgas<\/a>\u00a0following Bulgarian singer Dara\u2019s 2026 win \u2013 bosses introduced a new set of rules, which prevent a winning country from hosting the following year\u2019s contest if in an armed conflict.<\/p>\n

But in a lengthy statement, AvroTros said these rule-changes were not sufficient.<\/p>\n

The statement said of Eurovision: \u2018The event can no longer be considered neutral, with a participating country still involved in a large-scale military conflict. <\/p>\n

\u2018Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are having a significant impact on the Contest and have led to deep divisions. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"A
\n\t\tEurovision has faced an existential crisis in recent years over its inclusion of Israel (Picture: Elisabeth Mandl\/Reuters)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"FILE
\n\t\tJoost Klein represented the Netherlands in 2024, pictured here at the semi-final dress rehearsal in Malmo (Picture: AP Photo\/Martin Meissner)<\/p>\n

\u2018The 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.\u2019<\/p>\n

The broadcaster went on to say participation in the competition was \u2018no longer consistent with the values of AvroTros: trustworthiness, independence and humanity\u2019.<\/p>\n

The decision from AvroTros to withdraw does not strictly rule out the Netherlands from Eurovision, as another Dutch broadcaster may step in in their place. <\/p>\n

AvroTros says \u200bit will hand the \u200bdecision on Dutch participation to \u2060the NPO.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tThe \u200bdecision on Dutch participation will be handed to the public broadcaster\u2019s umbrella organisation (Picture: Christian Bruna\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The statement contiued: \u2018The severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing restrictions on press freedom have contributed to increasing divisions surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years.\u2019<\/p>\n

AvroTros cited several countries, including the Netherlands, boycotting the 2026 Eurovision Contest, as well as an open letter calling on the EBU to ban Israel\u2019s public broadcaster, KAN.<\/p>\n

The statement continued: \u2018This underlines the need for a clear framework for assessing the participation of countries involved in military conflicts.<\/p>\n

\u2018Under which circumstances is participation compatible with a neutral Eurovision Song Contest, and when is it not? For AVROTROS, it remains unclear on what basis the EBU makes that assessment.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Eurovision bosses considering drastic rule change for voting in 2027 contest<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Eurovision changes rules so winning country can be blocked from hosting<\/a><\/p>\n


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