Dutch broadcaster Avrotros withdraws from Eurovision 2027

musicAug 24, 202623829

Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros announced it will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas, Bulgaria, saying the competition "can no longer be considered neutral" while a participating country remains involved in a large-scale military conflict. Avrotros cited "the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing restrictions on press freedom" and said recent rule changes from the European Broadcasting Union do not restore confidence in the contest's independence and neutrality. The EBU amended rules to bar a winning broadcaster from hosting if its country is involved in an armed conflict or a "sensitive geopolitical situation," but Avrotros called those measures insufficient. Avrotros director general Taco Zimmerman said the contest has become "a platform for division," and contest director Martin Green said the EBU regretted the decision and will continue dialogue with NPO, the Dutch public media umbrella, about whether another Dutch broadcaster could take part. The Netherlands had already boycotted the 2026 contest after Israel was allowed to compete, and last November five broadcasters announced boycotts over the same issue. Avrotros said it remains guided by values of trustworthiness, independence and humanity even when that means stepping away from an event it would have liked to join.

Mark Chadbourn

@chadbourn.bsky.social

The Netherlands has pulled out of Eurovision 2027, saying the contest "can no longer be considered neutral" due to divisions over the Gaza war and Israel's participation.

64445d ago

runner4fun.bsky.social13

What Trump has done to America's standing in the world, Netanyahu has also done to Israel.

Evie!13

Genuinely wild that they consider Israel more important to Eurovision than several European countries

MrsVB12

Never understood why Israel is even in it.

Blue_Riverrrr9

Bravo, Netherlands 👏 Every day, I wonder how the world can let the genocide continue. I hope that voices become louder.

Raccoon8006

I love eurovision however if five keep the boycott up coupled with Isreal pulling a major sponsor due to the new voting rules it is in trouble financially. It's viewing is down 73 million in the last ten years

Andrew Crompton6

Good for the Netherlands. Could never happen in the complicit UK. Think of the grift that’s at stake for the morally bankrupt, spineless Biritish MPs.

Quoting this

shazan64.bsky.social4

Good for them. Eurovision has long been a farce. So far up Israels arse that it has nothing to do with music whatsoever

Mark Taylor2

#Eurovision 👀 @neilforreal.bsky.social Canada's chances of glory improving by the day!

Louise Lopsided of St Hilda2

Good for them. We need to follow suit.

Roger The Dodger2

Bit of a delayed response but at least they got there in the end...

Resist 🕎🍉

@antizionistjew.bsky.social

Dutch broadcaster Avrotros announced Monday that it is boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest for a second year over Israel’s participation. Broadcasters in the Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain had refused to take part in this year’s contest for this reason.

2845d ago

Quoting this

Stephen J.Reid8

Great news. Now let's wait for the BBC to follow suit! 🤣

strongcuppatea.bsky.social

@strongcuppatea.bsky.social

Wish Australia would do the same! The Netherlands will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria, the state broadcaster has said, citing divisions over the situation in Gaza. It's the second time the country is boycotting the event. www.dw.com/en/dutch-pul... #auspol

1845d ago

Bunkunin

@bunkunin.bsky.social

Eurovision boycotts "This year, the Netherlands was joined by Spain, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia in staging the biggest political boycott in Eurovision history in protest at Israel's participation. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters also marched outside the event." www.dw.com/en/dutch-pul...

1745d ago

Wear The Peace

@wearthepeace.bsky.social

The Netherlands is once again taking a stand for Palestine. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has announced it will not participate in Eurovision 2027, following its decision to withdraw from the 2026 contest over Israel’s participation.

1245d ago

Jewish Voice for Liberation

@jvl.org.uk

Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros has pulled out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest "The severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing restrictions on press freedom have contributed to increasing divisions surrounding the Contest in recent years." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

645d ago

Helen Shaw - Athena Media

@athenamediaie.bsky.social

Ireland and @rte.ie needs to adopt a similar stance - Eurovision is not 'neutral' www.rte.ie/entertainmen... one rule for Russia and quite another one for Israel

1345d ago

New London Boy 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

@newlondonboy.bsky.social

🇳🇱 Dutch broadcaster Avrotros pulls out of 2027 #Eurovision Song Contest. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

845d ago

Dave Keating

@davekeating.substack.com

Dutch broadcaster says #Eurovision "can no longer be considered neutral" due to Israel's participation amid Gaza war. They say recent rule changes excluding countries in armed conflicts from hosting "do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent & neutral character has been restored".

745d ago

Leonard French

@piratelawyer.com

I'm very glad to hear that the Dutch broadcaster Avrotros has pulled out of Israeli-vision 2027. It used to be Eurovision, and it exists since 1955. It produced the famous pop band ABBA.

644d ago

Lynn Boylan MEP

@lnbdublin.bsky.social

Netherlands to boycott Eurovision 2027, saying event is ‘no longer neutral’ jrnl.ie/7139814

745d ago

Gordon Darroch

@gordondarroch.bsky.social

Last year’s boycott was somewhat undermined by NPO’s decision to show Eurovision even though the Netherlands wasn’t competing, thanks to the crazy world of Dutch public broadcasting. I suspect the same thing will happen this year. www.dutchnews.nl/2026/08/dutc...

545d ago

ESC Discord

@escdiscord.com

🇨🇦 CBC/Radio-Canada opens submissions for Canada's #Eurovision 2027 national final from 31 August to 9 September. 🔸 Finalists announced by the end of November 🔹 Jury and online vote split 🔸 The winner "will partner with music industry heavyweights" on their entry

745d ago

Adam M

@englishmanadam.bsky.social

Maybe Israel should do the honorable thing and just pull out itself... But then again, since when did Israel do anything honorable? Dutch broadcaster says it will not participate in Eurovision due to Gaza war | The Jerusalem Post share.google/Uk4l6i2IXmT1...

545d ago

Mr RobertBob

@mrrobertbob.bsky.social

I don’t watch it and more countries should follow the Netherlands lead. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/eurovi...

645d ago

3 sources

bbc.co.ukDutch broadcaster Avrotros pulls out of 2027 Eurovision Song Contest news.sky.comDutch broadcaster AvroTros to boycott 2027 Eurovision Song Contest leverageonheroesmedia.comDutch broadcaster Avrotros pulls out of 2027 Eurovision Song Contest Avrotros w

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Dutch broadcaster Avrotros withdraws from Eurovision 2027

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