Dutch say won't participate in 'no longer' neutral Eurovision
AVROTROS said geopolitical tensions and the Gaza war have undermined Eurovision’s neutrality, and the Netherlands will not take part in the contest next year.
- On Monday, the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced the Netherlands will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. Director-General Taco Zimmerman stated the event can "no longer be considered neutral" given divisions over the Gaza war.
- Recent changes by the EBU excluding countries involved in armed conflict failed to restore confidence in the contest's neutrality. The competition has recently faced a wave of boycotts over Israel's participation.
- The 2026 competition attracted 131 million viewers, a decline of 35 million from the previous year. Israel finished second in both 2025 and 2026, fueling scrutiny surrounding the event.
- Zimmerman called the decision "painful as we would have very much liked to be part of the Contest again next year." He added that as a public broadcaster, they remain committed to their values.
- Despite the withdrawal, the world's biggest live televised music event is scheduled for May 15 in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Burgas. It marks the first time Bulgaria has hosted the competition.
71 Articles
71 Articles
The Netherlands will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, the country's public broadcaster announced, citing the music competition "can no longer be considered neutral" due to divisions over the war in the Gaza Strip.
(Brussels=Yonhap News) Correspondent Hyun Yun-kyung = The Netherlands has decided not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest (hereinafter Eurovision), a European national music competition, next year as well, following this year...
AvroTros's decision not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest again is leading to angry, furrowed brows and many questions. Former winners Lenny Kuhr and Getty Kaspers fear that music will fade even further into the background due to decisions like this. However, many young artists are expressing their support for the broadcaster online.
The Netherlands will probably not be participating in the ESC in the coming year.
Dutch broadcaster AvroTros to boycott 2027 Eurovision Song Contest
Dutch public broadcaster AvroTros said on Monday it would boycott the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest for a second year in protest at the presence of Israel in light of the situation in Gaza and what it called a lack of clear rules for excluding countries involved in military conflicts.
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