developing· Culture· Updated 12:18

Netherlands Withdraws From Eurovision 2027 Over Israel's Participation

The Dutch public broadcaster NPO announced on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, that the Netherlands has withdrawn from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest. The decision, which reverses a September resolution to return to the competition, was made in protest of Israel's participation.

8 newsrooms · 3 languages · since 11:13

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Netherlands Withdraws From Eurovision 2027 Over Israel's Participation — Illustration by baba

What happened

01The Netherlands has officially withdrawn from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in protest of Israel's participation.
02Dutch public broadcaster NPO reversed its September decision to return to the contest after failing to find an acceptable form of participation.
03Broadcaster AVROTROS announced its withdrawal in August, stating the contest lost its neutrality due to Israel's military conflict.
04Approximately 400 Dutch public broadcasting employees signed a protest letter demanding that NPO cancel the country's participation.
05Pro-Palestinian groups held street demonstrations in Hilversum calling for a boycott of the competition.
06This decision marks the second consecutive year that the Netherlands will boycott the Eurovision Song Contest over Israel's involvement.
07Despite the boycott, the Dutch public broadcaster NOS will still broadcast the 2027 Eurovision competition.
08The European Broadcasting Union is scheduled to hold a discussion regarding Israel's participation in December.

According to NPO, the withdrawal follows consultations with other Dutch broadcasters that revealed a lack of sufficient support for the country's involvement. Broadcaster AVROTROS had already declared in August that it would not participate, arguing that the contest had lost its neutrality because a participating country was engaged in a major military conflict. NPO board chairwoman Jett de Ranitz stated that negotiations failed to find a form of participation acceptable to all parties.

The decision also follows significant internal and external pressure. Approximately 400 public broadcasting employees signed a protest letter demanding that NPO cancel its participation, while pro-Palestinian groups held demonstrations in Hilversum calling for a boycott. The Netherlands previously boycotted the 2026 contest over Israel's involvement, and its representative was disqualified from the 2024 competition.

Despite the withdrawal, the Netherlands will still broadcast the 2027 competition through the NOS network, including commentary and preview programs. Additionally, the European Broadcasting Union is scheduled to discuss Israel's participation in December.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 6 newsrooms. Updated 12:07