Netherlands Withdraws From Eurovision 2027 Amid Protests Over Israel's Participation

The Netherlands will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May in Bulgaria, according to a Reuters report. The decision by Dutch public broadcasters follows significant pressure and protests against Israel's involvement in the competition. This comes about a month after the Dutch public broadcaster NPO announced it would work to bring the country back to the European stage after its absence from the previous contest.

The broadcaster AVROTROS, which managed the Dutch delegation for years, had declared in August that it would boycott Eurovision 2027 due to Israel's participation. Subsequently, NPO stated it would take over, select the representative, and lead the delegation. However, this move sparked immediate internal controversy, with approximately 400 employees signing a protest letter titled "Not My Eurovision," criticizing the decision made without consultation and demanding the withdrawal.

Concurrently, seven public broadcasting organizations requested clarification on budgeting and decision-making processes, which ultimately led to the cancellation of participation. The Netherlands was among five countries that boycotted Eurovision 2026 because of Israel's participation, alongside Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and Iceland. Ireland has officially confirmed it will continue its boycott for 2027, and similar calls are being heard in Spain, though no official announcement has been made.

The European Broadcasting Union expressed disappointment, stating, "We are very sorry that the Dutch public broadcaster NPO will not participate in Eurovision 2027. We understand the decision and respect the strength of the emotions behind it in the Netherlands."