Netherlands Withdraws From Eurovision 2027 Over Israel's Participation Amid Gaza Conflict
The Dutch public broadcaster AvroTros announced on Monday that it will boycott the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, marking the second consecutive year the Netherlands will abstain from the competition. This decision is a protest against Israel's participation in the contest amid the ongoing war in Gaza. In an official statement, AvroTros criticized the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for lacking clear rules to exclude countries involved in military conflicts. They stated that recent changes by the EBU do not sufficiently guarantee the independent and neutral nature of Eurovision.
AvroTros also declared it will transfer future decisions regarding Dutch participation in Eurovision to NPO, the country's general public broadcasting association. The Netherlands had similarly boycotted the 2026 contest for the same reason. Alongside the Netherlands, Slovenia, Ireland, Spain, and Iceland have also withdrawn from Eurovision in protest of Israel's involvement.
Separately, it was announced that the 2027 Eurovision will be hosted in Burgas, Bulgaria. Additionally, new Eurovision rules will prevent countries engaged in military conflicts from hosting the event, reflecting a significant change in the contest's regulations.
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