The Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros announced on Monday that it will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing the competition's inability to maintain neutrality while countries engaged in armed conflict remain eligible to compete. The decision marks a significant moment for the contest, which has faced mounting controversy over its handling of geopolitical tensions in recent years.
In its formal statement, Avrotros expressed concern about the lack of clarity from the Eurovision Broadcasting Union (EBU) regarding which nations should be permitted to take part. The broadcaster specifically highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ongoing restrictions on press freedom as factors that have deepened divisions around the event.
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.
Although the EBU introduced new eligibility rules on 12 August 2026, Avrotros determined that these measures do not adequately restore confidence in the contest's independence and impartiality. According to Euronews, the updated regulations state that any country involved in an armed conflict becomes ineligible to host the following year's contest if it wins, with an independent security assessment possible to evaluate whether a geopolitical situation materially affects safety or stability in the region.
Avrotros's withdrawal from Eurovision 2027 does not automatically prevent Dutch participation in the competition. The Netherlands has multiple public broadcasters within its system, unlike some other nations, meaning another organisation could potentially take on the responsibility. The decision now passes to NPO, the umbrella organisation for Dutch public service media, which will determine how the country proceeds.
This development follows the Netherlands' boycott of Eurovision 2026, held in Vienna, Austria, after Israel was permitted to compete despite international controversy. According to , Avrotros is now the latest of five broadcasters to distance itself from the contest over Israel's participation, joining Spain, Ireland and others in expressing concerns about the event's direction.
Why the contest's neutrality is in question
Taco Zimmerman, director general of Avrotros, argued that the Eurovision Song Contest has strayed from its founding purpose.
The Eurovision Song Contest was originally created to bring people and countries together,he said, before adding that it has become
a platform for division.Zimmerman emphasised that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest and undermining its neutral character.
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.
The broadcaster's objections centre on both the humanitarian crisis and what it views as unclear rules for determining which countries involved in military conflicts should be excluded from participation. According to , these concerns prompted Avrotros to hand the participation decision back to NPO rather than proceed independently.
How contest organisers responded
Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, stated that the EBU regrets Avrotros's decision but respects its position.
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.Green also defended the contest's fundamental purpose, asserting that it
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.
The EBU's rule amendment was approved by the contest's governing body following feedback from participating broadcasters after Eurovision 2026. The new regulations specify that winning countries will be disqualified from hosting if a country involved in armed military conflict wins, or if a
sensitive geopolitical situationaffects the
security, safety or stability of their state or immediate region.
The broader context of Eurovision's political tensions
The contest has become increasingly entangled with international conflicts. In November 2025, following a failed attempt to have Israel suspended from competition, five broadcasters announced boycotts of Eurovision 2026. Despite these protests, Israeli artist Noam Bettan finished as runner-up with the song Michelle, marking the second consecutive year Israel achieved second place in the competition.
The new hosting restrictions will affect multiple nations. While the rule change is widely understood as targeting Israel's continued participation, it will also impact Ukraine, which has been engaged in a protracted military conflict since its invasion by Russia in 2022. Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra won Eurovision in 2022 in what many saw as a symbolic demonstration of international solidarity, yet the country's ongoing war status now complicates its future hosting eligibility under the new framework.
Some participating broadcasters have privately expressed safety concerns about the possibility of the contest being staged in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv should Israel win in future years, a consideration that informed the EBU's decision to introduce the new rules.
What happens next
Eurovision 2027 is scheduled for 15 May 2027 in Burgas, Bulgaria, according to official EBU confirmation. The contest will proceed as planned, though the question of Dutch participation now rests with NPO rather than Avrotros. The umbrella broadcaster will determine whether another Dutch public broadcaster will take on the responsibility of fielding a national entry for the competition.
The EBU has indicated its willingness to continue discussions with NPO to explore alternative arrangements for Dutch representation, signalling that the organisation hopes to maintain broad participation despite the growing political sensitivities surrounding the event.
