24.08.2026 20:41
Last year, the Netherlands, along with Iceland, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, protested Israel's participation in Eurovision, and this year it maintained its stance. The Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros stated that Eurovision's neutrality has been compromised due to the ongoing war in Gaza and announced that the country will not participate in the 2027 competition.
The Eurovision Song Contest will remain at the center of boycott debates in 2027, following 2026. The Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros announced that the Netherlands will not participate in Eurovision 2027, stating that the contest's neutrality has been damaged due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
"EUROVISION IS NO LONGER NEUTRAL"
Avrotros General Director Taco Zimmerman said that the impact of international conflicts on Eurovision has increased in recent years and that the contest's neutral structure has been increasingly undermined.
Zimmerman argued that the event has turned into a "platform of polarization" under the influence of political and international tensions.
NEW RULES DID NOT CONVINCE THE NETHERLANDS
It was noted that the Eurovision organization announced new rules regarding the contest earlier this month. The regulations aimed to prevent countries that are parties to armed conflicts from hosting the contest.
However, Avrotros believes that the changes made do not provide sufficient assurance that Eurovision's independent and neutral nature has been restored.
In a statement made by the organization, it was stated that the newly announced rules do not create the necessary confidence for the Netherlands to rejoin the contest.
ALSO BOYCOTTED LAST YEAR
The Netherlands was among the countries that withdrew from Eurovision in 2026 to protest Israel's participation in the contest. With the latest decision for 2027, the Netherlands became the first country to announce that it would not participate in next year's contest.
The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia did not participate in last year's (2026) Eurovision to protest Israel's participation.
The contest held in Vienna, the capital of Austria, was won by Bulgaria's representative Dara with her song "Bangaranga."
The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest will be held on May 15 in the city of Burgas on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast.