The Netherlands Withdraws from Eurovision 2027 Due to Controversy Over Israel’s Participation

The Netherlands will not take part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, according to the public broadcaster NPO, which cited “sensitivities” surrounding Israel’s inclusion in the event.

This decision reflects a growing trend of countries opting out of the annual music festival due to dissatisfaction with Israel’s presence, particularly in light of the ongoing military actions in Gaza that followed the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Jurre Bosman, NPO’s media director, acknowledged that Israel’s participation has sparked a range of reactions within the Dutch society and has fueled discussions and divisions. “Therefore, after consultation with the Board of Broadcasters, the NPO has decided to refrain from participating in 2027,” he stated.

This choice highlights a previously inconsistent stance from the Netherlands regarding its involvement in the contest and underscores the contentious nature of the debate within the country.

Back in August, AVROTROS, the broadcaster responsible for selecting the Dutch entry and airing the show, withdrew, arguing that the event could “no longer be considered neutral” due to wars and conflicts in the region. Later, NPO had attempted to step in and assumed responsibility for the Netherlands’ participation, but ultimately reversed its decision.

Jet de Ranitz, NPO’s executive chairman, expressed that the decision would likely disappoint many fans of Eurovision in the Netherlands, but confirmed that the contest would still be broadcast on public channels. He added, “We must conclude that it is currently too early to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027.”

He explained that, given the prevailing sensitive issues, they had decided to retreat from participation for now.

In August, organizers announced a policy to exclude any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the event, but this has not prevented other countries from withdrawing. For example, Ireland has already declared its decision to step back, and the head of Spain’s public broadcaster has expressed support for a boycott as well. Earlier this month, the Czech broadcaster also withdrew, citing budget cuts as their reasoning.

The upcoming Eurovision contest, the largest live televised music event globally, is scheduled for May 15 in Burgas, Bulgaria—the first time this Balkan nation will host the competition. Notably, Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, known as Dara, won this year’s contest with her popular song “Bangaranga.”

Since kicking off in 1955, Eurovision has established itself as a premier pop platform, launching the careers of iconic artists like ABBA, Celine Dion, Cliff Richard, and Olivia Newton-John.

Despite a significant decline in viewership—131 million watched the 2026 contest, down 35 million from the previous year due to several boycotts—the event remains a vital part of international culture. Countries like the Netherlands, Iceland, and Slovenia have opted out of the 2026 competition, with some deciding not to broadcast it at all.

The Dutch initially participated in Eurovision’s very first contest in 1956 and have won the event five times, with their latest victory being Duncan Laurence’s “Arcade” in 2019, which achieved global chart success and topped a billion streams on Spotify.

Martin Green, head of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that organizes the show, expressed his regret over the Netherlands’ withdrawal. He stated, “We understand their decision, and we respect the strength of feeling behind it in the Netherlands,” while emphasizing the importance of the Eurovision Song Contest in today’s fragmented world.