AVROTROS pulls out of the 2027 contest
Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS announced on August 24, 2026 that it will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza and what it described as the erosion of the competition's neutral character. Director-General Taco Zimmerman said the contest "was originally created to bring people and countries together," adding that "international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character." AVROTROS said it had returned responsibility for Dutch participation in Eurovision to the NPO, the umbrella organization that handles the Dutch public broadcasting system, leaving it to NPO to decide whether another broadcaster would step in.
Reasons cited by the broadcaster
In its statement, AVROTROS said "geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are having too much of an impact on the Song Contest and have led to significant division." The broadcaster urged the European Broadcasting Union to "establish transparent rules for the participation of countries in military conflict" and said it had "insufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Song Contest can be restored." Zimmerman said that, as a public broadcaster, AVROTROS "remain[s] committed to our values," describing the decision as "painful."
Continuity with 2026 walkouts
The Dutch pullout extends a pattern of withdrawals that shaped the 2026 contest, held in Vienna on May 16, 2026. AVROTROS was among the broadcasters that withdrew from the 2026 edition over Israel's participation, alongside Spain, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia. The 70th Eurovision Song Contest was staged at Wiener Stadthalle, with Israel's Noam Bettan performing the song "Michelle" in the Grand Final.
Decision left with the NPO
By handing the question of Dutch participation back to the NPO, AVROTROS has left open whether any Dutch outlet will broadcast the 2027 contest at all. The broadcaster's statement did not specify a timeline for the NPO's decision or whether it intends to seek an alternative participating broadcaster. No replacement host broadcaster has been named in the available reporting.
Outstanding question for the EBU
AVROTROS's call for "transparent rules for the participation of countries in military conflict" puts the European Broadcasting Union at the center of the unresolved question. The EBU's response, and whether any framework emerges before the 2027 contest cycle formally opens, will determine whether further withdrawals follow or whether AVROTROS's exit remains an isolated Dutch decision.
Follow-up signals: NPO is expected to decide whether another Dutch broadcaster will take over Eurovision duties for 2027; the EBU faces pressure to clarify participation criteria for countries involved in military conflicts.
Keywords: AVROTROS, Eurovision Song Contest 2027, Gaza, European Broadcasting Union, NPO
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