Boycott of Eurovision 2027 over Israel – who has refused to participate

Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has announced a boycott of Eurovision 2027 due to Israel's participation. CEO Taco Zimmerman stated that the contest has lost its neutral status. The authority to send a participant has been returned to the parent holding NPO, which may transfer it to another broadcaster. In 2026, the Netherlands boycotted the contest along with Spain, Slovenia, Iceland, and Ireland, none of which have yet confirmed their return.

Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS has officially announced its decision to skip the Eurovision Song Contest 2027. The main reason cited is the continued participation of Israel in the competition. The broadcaster's CEO, Taco Zimmerman, emphasized that the music project has lost its neutral status due to international conflicts and has become a tool of division. The company's management notified the parent media holding NPO of the return of authority for further formation of the application. NPO's structure includes eight different broadcasting companies with the right to broadcast the contest. Last year, after a similar démarche by AVROTROS, the shows were successfully provided by NOS and NTR channels. The country's Minister of Culture, Rianne Letschert, previously confirmed the absence of legal obstacles to changing the national representative. In 2026, the Netherlands boycotted the contest along with Spain, Slovenia, Iceland, and Ireland. As of now, none of these states have confirmed their return to the stage in 2027. Representatives of the EBU expressed regret over the position of their Dutch colleagues but promised to continue dialogue with NPO. The organizers reminded of previously adopted reforms and new safety rules concerning countries involved in armed conflicts. The next contest is scheduled to take place in the Bulgarian city of Burgas after the victory of a local performer.