The Netherlands will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS announced Monday, saying the competition can no longer be regarded as neutral amid divisions over the war in Gaza.
AVROTROS Director General Taco Zimmermann said international conflicts were increasingly affecting the contest and undermining its character as a neutral cultural event.
"It cannot be denied that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest, undermining its neutrality. As a result, the Eurovision Song Contest has become a platform for division," Zimmermann said.
Although the broadcaster's statement did not explicitly mention Israel, the decision comes after growing controversy over Israel's participation in Eurovision. Several countries boycotted the 2026 contest over Israel's involvement, while organizers have faced continued pressure over the issue.
Earlier this month, Eurovision organizers announced changes to the rules preventing a country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the competition. AVROTROS said those measures were not enough to restore confidence in Eurovision's neutrality.
