The Netherlands’ public broadcaster AVROTROS says it will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, arguing the event can no longer be considered neutral. In a statement cited by multiple outlets, AVROTROS Director-General Taco Zimmerman says international conflicts increasingly affect the contest, undermining its neutral character and fueling divisions.
Outlets link the decision to heightened tensions around the war in Gaza and Israel’s participation. Sky News and others describe the boycott as protest against Israel’s involvement, while BBC Entertainment and related reports frame it more generally as a response to large-scale military conflict affecting the event’s standing as impartial. Several sources also note that Eurovision has recently faced renewed scrutiny over how it handles countries involved in armed conflicts, including rules and announcements about hosting eligibility.
Overall, the coverage is consistent that AVROTROS is withdrawing from Eurovision 2027 on neutrality grounds tied to the Gaza conflict, while differing mainly in how directly they emphasize protest framing versus broader concerns about divisions caused by international conflicts.
