AVROTROS withdraws from Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria over conflict and neutrality concerns

Broadcaster withdrawal

Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS announced on 24 August 2026 that it will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas, Bulgaria. The broadcaster stated that the competition is no longer neutral while a participating country remains involved in a large-scale military conflict, referring to Israel. AVROTROS stated that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have influenced the event and caused substantial division among participants and audiences. The decision follows the broadcaster's absence from the 2026 edition in Vienna, which was the first time in 24 years that the Netherlands did not take part. AVROTROS has officially informed the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO) and returned the mandate for Dutch participation back to the national network.

Dispute over EBU regulations

AVROTROS had spent the past year urging the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to establish transparent rules and an explicit framework for countries involved in armed conflict. In response to member concerns, the EBU recently updated its contest regulations to prevent any country at war from hosting the event if it wins. However, the revised rules do not bar such countries from competing. AVROTROS stated that these policy adjustments offer insufficient confidence to restore the independent and neutral character of the festival. The broadcaster also cited ongoing humanitarian suffering in Gaza and attacks on press freedom as conditions incompatible with its core values of reliability, independence, and humanity.

Taco Zimmerman, general director of AVROTROS, addressed the broadcaster's position directly.

One cannot deny that an international conflict increasingly affects the event, causing it to lose its neutral character. The song festival has thus become a stage of division. As a public broadcaster, we remain faithful to our values. They guide us, even if that means letting go of an event close to our hearts. That is painful, because we would have loved to be there again next year.

International boycott and Belgian response

The withdrawal follows coordinated pushback during the 2026 contest in Vienna, where Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland joined the Netherlands in boycotting the event over Israel's participation and allegations of Israeli government interference in the 2025 competition. Bulgaria won the Vienna contest, earning the right to host the May 2027 edition in Burgas. In Belgium, Flemish public broadcaster VRT is responsible for the Belgian entry for 2027 but has expressed strong reservations. In May 2026, VRT announced that the chances of sending a representative to Bulgaria were slim, demanding a direct member vote on country admissions and a clear stance against war and violence. A VRT spokesperson noted that the EBU has provided insufficient answers to those demands.

Decisions ahead for the NPO

The refusal by AVROTROS does not guarantee that the Netherlands will be completely absent from Burgas. The NPO now holds the responsibility to determine whether another Dutch broadcasting association will take over the delegation and organize the national entry. During the 2026 competition in Vienna, observers and Dutch press members noted preparations for a potential Dutch comeback, though AVROTROS has now ruled itself out. VRT NWS journalist Gianni Paelinck stated that it would be logical for Belgian broadcaster VRT to align its upcoming decision with the Dutch outcome. If the NPO fails to find an alternative broadcaster willing to manage the project, the Netherlands will sit out the contest for the second consecutive year.