Netherlands boycotts Eurovision 2027 over Gaza for second year

**Dutch Broadcaster AVROTROS Withdraws from Eurovision 2027 Over Gaza Conflict**

*Burgas, Bulgaria – August 24, 2026* – The Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS announced that it will not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled to be held in Burgas, Bulgaria. The decision was made in response to the ongoing military conflict in Gaza involving Israel, which AVROTROS says compromises the contest’s neutrality.

In a press release, AVROTROS stated that the “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.” The broadcaster added that participation under the current circumstances “is no longer consistent with the values of AVROTROS: trustworthiness, independence and humanity.”

The withdrawal marks the second consecutive year that the Netherlands has abstained from the competition due to Israel’s involvement. AVROTROS previously boycotted the 2026 contest, which was held in Vienna, Austria.

AVROTROS has transferred responsibility for any future Dutch participation to the national public‑media umbrella organization, the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO). In comments reported by *Algemeen Dagblad* (AD), the NPO said it will “reflect on the upcoming edition and decide how to proceed at an appropriate time,” acknowledging that geopolitical tensions are affecting the event.

Earlier in the year, AVROTROS had urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to adopt transparent rules for handling entries from countries engaged in active military conflicts. Although the EBU announced updates to its framework, AVROTROS indicated that the revisions did not clarify the evaluation criteria, leaving the broadcaster unconvinced that the contest’s independent character could be restored.

Omroep MAX, another Dutch public broadcaster that had expressed interest in assuming the role for the 2027 contest, later ruled out participation, according to statements from its network chief Jan Slagter to AD.

AVROTROS Director‑General Taco Zimmerman described the withdrawal as a “painful decision,” noting that the Eurovision Song Contest was originally intended “to bring people and countries together.” He added that “international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character,” and affirmed the organization’s commitment to its core values.

The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest will proceed with entries from other participating broadcasters, while the Netherlands’ involvement remains uncertain pending further decisions by the NPO.

Article and image source: iamexpat.nl