Ahead of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, due to be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, the Dutch national broadcaster Avrotros have pulled out from participation. The Netherlands did not send an entry to this year’s contest due to concerns over the continued involvement of Israel.
While the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Vienna was certainly a spectacle, the entire event was overshadowed by tensions surrounding the Middle East and how Israel’s inclusion is at odds with the ESC’s principles of peace and unity. Israel and their national broadcaster Kan are still participating in the annual contest despite Israel’s controversial ongoing activities in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian West Bank, as well as the wars with Iran and Lebanon. Following a failed bid to suspend Israel, five nations withdrew from the 2026 ESC – Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and The Netherlands.
Earlier this month, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the body formed by the national broadcasters from participating nations which runs the ESC, made changes to Eurovision’s rules which would prohibit a country in active conflict from hosting the next year’s event should they win. This move will be seen by many as a direct attempt to curb the drama surrounding Israel’s participation, following their second place finishes in the last two contests.
However, the EBU’s rule change has not reassured Avrotros – in a statement today announcing their decision to withdraw, the Dutch broadcaster has said the changes “do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored”. Avrotros’s statement also says “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.”
Taco Zimmerman, the director general for Avrotros, has directly addressed the move, saying that while the contest was “was originally created to bring people and countries together”, it has now become “a platform for division”, adding “It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest, undermining its neutral character.”. Zimmerman continues – “The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division. As a public broadcaster, we remain committed to our values. 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.”
Avrotros exiting the 2027 Song Contest does not mean The Netherlands have no chance of appearing. NPO, the umbrella organisation supervising Dutch broadcasters is currently considering its options, should another broadcaster wish to take on Eurovision duties, though several of them have already ruled themselves out. The NPO has stated that they “respect Avrotros’s decision”, with a comment that says “We also recognise that the geopolitical tensions are having a divisive effect.” and “That’s why this hasn’t been an easy decision for our colleagues. We will reflect on the upcoming edition and will come back to this at the right moment.”
ESC director Martin Green has responded to the news with a statement that says “We regret AVROTROS’ decision to no longer participate in the Eurovision Song Contest but understand their choice and respect the views of our member broadcasters. The Eurovision Song Contest has always been a place to bring people together, celebrate diverse communities, and show that a better world is possible even in the most difficult times. We will now continue our dialogue with NPO, the umbrella organization for Dutch public service media, regarding the opportunities for another broadcaster to participate. We very much hope that audiences and artists in the Netherlands can continue to be represented in the Eurovision Song Contest.” Following Bulgaria’s shock 2026 victory with singer Dara’s vibrant party anthem ‘Bangaranga’, the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is heading to the city Burgas on the coastline of the Black Sea. Arena Burgas will host the semi finals on May 11 and 13, before the grand final on May 15.
