Newsroom
The Netherlands will not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, with national broadcaster AVROTROS saying the competition can no longer be regarded as politically neutral.
AVROTROS Director-General Taco Zimmerman said international conflicts had increasingly become part of the contest, turning what was intended to be a neutral music competition into a source of division.
The broadcaster said changes recently announced by Eurovision organisers had not provided enough assurance that the event's independent status had been restored. Organisers had announced earlier in August that countries involved in armed conflicts would be barred from hosting future editions of the competition.
The decision comes after a series of withdrawals linked to Israel's participation. The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia did not compete in the 2026 contest. Spain, Ireland and Slovenia also chose not to broadcast the event.
Israel finished second in both the 2025 and 2026 competitions, adding to the political pressure surrounding its participation as the Gaza war continued.
The 2026 Eurovision in Vienna attracted 131 million viewers, a fall of 35 million compared with the previous year. The decline came after five countries boycotted the competition.
Despite the withdrawals, Eurovision remains one of the world's largest live television events. The 2027 final is scheduled for May 15 in Burgas, Bulgaria, following the country's victory in Vienna. Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, known professionally as Dara, won the 2026 contest with "Bangaranga", securing Bulgaria's first opportunity to host the event.
The Netherlands has a long history with Eurovision and has participated since the contest began in 1956. The competition has helped launch or elevate the international careers of artists including ABBA, Celine Dion, Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John.
The Dutch broadcaster's decision means another established Eurovision participant will be absent from next year's contest as organisers face continued debate over how the competition should handle international conflicts and maintain its claimed political neutrality.
