Dutch broadcaster Avrotros exits 2027 Eurovision Song Contest
Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros has withdrawn from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, saying the event can no longer be considered neutral while a participating country remains involved in a large-scale military conflict. The broadcaster cited insufficient clarity from organisers on who can compete.
Key Takeaways
- Avrotros will not enter the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas, Bulgaria.
- It says recent EBU rule changes do not restore the contest's neutral character.
- The Netherlands also boycotted the 2026 contest in Vienna over Israel's participation.
- Dutch participation in 2027 is not ruled out if another broadcaster steps in.
- Contest director Martin Green said the EBU regrets the decision but respects it.
The announcement, reported by the BBC and other outlets on Monday, follows growing division around the competition. Avrotros pointed to severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and ongoing restrictions on press freedom as factors that have deepened splits among broadcasters in recent years.
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Why did Avrotros withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest?
In a statement, Avrotros said the decision stemmed from a lack of clarity from the EBU over how it assesses which countries may compete. Director-general Taco Zimmerman said international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest and undermining its neutral character.
"The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division," Zimmerman said. He added that as a public broadcaster, Avrotros remains committed to its values, even when that means stepping away from an event close to its heart.
Earlier this month, the EBU updated its rules so that if a country involved in an armed conflict wins, it will be ineligible to host the following year. Winning countries can also be barred from hosting if a sensitive geopolitical situation affects the security, safety or stability of their state or immediate region. Avrotros said those changes "do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored."
Could the Netherlands still take part in 2027?
Avrotros's withdrawal does not necessarily rule out Dutch involvement. The Netherlands has several public broadcasters, and another could potentially take on the entry.
NPO, the umbrella organisation for Dutch public service media, said it was "very sorry" to hear Avrotros had pulled out again and that it respected the decision. It recognised that geopolitical tensions are having a divisive effect, said members were deliberating, and added it was "too early to comment on the next steps."
Avrotros also sat out the 2026 contest in Vienna after Israel was allowed to compete. The Netherlands was among five countries — alongside Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia — that boycotted that edition. Israel finished second in both 2025 and 2026.
How has the EBU responded, and where is Eurovision 2027?
Martin Green, director of the contest, said the EBU regretted Avrotros's decision but respected its views. He said dialogue would continue with NPO about opportunities for another Dutch broadcaster to participate, and that the EBU hoped Dutch audiences and artists could still be represented.
Next year's Eurovision Song Contest is due on 15 May in Burgas, Bulgaria — the first time the Balkan nation hosts — after Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, known as Dara, won the 2026 contest in Vienna with "Bangaranga." The 2026 show drew 131 million viewers, down 35 million from the previous year after the boycotts.