AVROTROS cites concerns over EBU neutrality and says international conflicts increasingly undermine Eurovision’s original purpose of bringing nations together
AMSTERDAM: Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS announced on Monday that it will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing the continuing conflict in Gaza and concerns over what it described as a lack of neutrality within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
AVROTROS Director-General Taco Zimmerman said Eurovision was originally established to unite countries and people through music. However, he argued that international conflicts have increasingly influenced the competition and weakened its neutral character.
Consequently, AVROTROS has returned responsibility for Dutch participation in Eurovision to NPO, the umbrella organisation overseeing the Netherlands’ public broadcasting system.
NPO will now decide whether another Dutch public broadcaster should assume responsibility for the country’s participation and Eurovision coverage in 2027.
Broadcaster Seeks Clear Participation Rules
Meanwhile, AVROTROS called for a transparent framework explaining how the EBU determines whether countries involved in military conflicts can participate in Eurovision.
Zimmerman said the broadcaster remained committed to its public-service values, even when those principles required it to withdraw from an event with significant cultural importance.
He acknowledged that leaving Eurovision was a difficult decision because AVROTROS had hoped to return to the competition next year.
Decision Follows Previous Eurovision Withdrawal
Furthermore, AVROTROS had already withdrawn from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest because of Israel’s participation amid the Gaza conflict.
Spain, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia also stayed away from the 2026 competition over similar concerns surrounding Israel’s inclusion.
The latest announcement therefore extends the Netherlands’ Eurovision absence into another year, although it does not necessarily rule out Dutch participation altogether.
Ultimately, NPO will determine whether another broadcaster can represent the Netherlands in 2027, while AVROTROS says any future involvement requires clearer standards concerning neutrality, armed conflicts and participating countries.
