Netherlands Set to Return to Eurovision in 2027 After Boycott Over Israel's Participation

The Netherlands is expected to rejoin the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, which will be held in Bulgaria, after boycotting the 2026 contest due to Israel's participation. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS is reportedly preparing to announce the country's return within two weeks and has already selected its representative, 30-year-old Davina Michelle. This development was revealed by Jordi Prastijdan, a journalist from De Telegraaf, on the Dutch program De Oranjezomer.

The Netherlands was part of a group of countries including Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, and Iceland that boycotted Eurovision 2026 in Vienna in protest of Israel's involvement. Although AVROTROS has not yet made an official statement, sources indicate that the decision to return has been finalized behind the scenes. This marks a significant reversal from the stance taken last year when the Netherlands joined the boycott.

Davina Michelle is a familiar figure to Eurovision fans, having performed as a guest during the first semi-final of Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam with "The Power of Water." She was recently interviewed about the possibility of representing the Netherlands, and now negotiations have culminated in her official selection.

The last time the Netherlands participated was in Eurovision 2025 in Basel, where the singer Claude performed "C’est La Vie," finishing 12th with 175 points, below expectations. The Netherlands is one of the seven founding countries of Eurovision, having participated 65 times and won five times, most recently in 2019 with Duncan Laurence's "Arcade."