AVROTROS, a Dutch public broadcaster, announced Monday it will boycott the Eurovision Song Contest for a second consecutive year, citing the event's perceived loss of neutrality due to Israel's participation.
The broadcaster stated that the Eurovision Song Contest can no longer be considered neutral while a participating country is involved in a large-scale military conflict, impacting its ability to serve as a unifying platform. AVROTROS plans to withdraw from the 2027 contest, leaving the decision on any Dutch participation to the public network NPO.
In a statement, AVROTROS director-general Taco Zimmerman noted that international conflicts increasingly affect the contest, undermining its neutral character and turning it into "a platform for division." The broadcaster has urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to establish clearer rules for countries engaged in military conflicts. However, AVROTROS expressed insufficient confidence in recently announced EBU changes to restore the event's independent and neutral standing.
While AVROTROS did not explicitly name Israel, its decision stems from the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and restrictions on press freedom, which have intensified divisions surrounding the contest in recent years. Israel has participated in Eurovision since 1973.
The Eurovision Song Contest was established in 1956 to help unite Europe in the aftermath of World War II. The competition features musical acts from numerous countries competing for a continental title.