Netherlands pulls out of Eurovision 2027 again over Israel's participation

A second Dutch withdrawal in a year

The Dutch public broadcasting umbrella NPO said on 27 October 2026 that the Netherlands will not send an act to the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 in Burgas, Bulgaria. The NPO had said in late September that the country would return after a year away, but that plan is now dropped. The Netherlands had already skipped the 2026 contest in Vienna in May, alongside Spain, Iceland, Ireland and Slovenia, over Israel's continued participation despite military operations in Gaza. The announcement came on the day polls opened in Israel for the renewal of the Knesset.

How the Dutch decision unfolded

In August AVROTROS, which had traditionally handled the Dutch entry, said it would not take part in 2027, arguing that the contest could no longer be seen as neutral while a participating country was involved in a large-scale military conflict. In September the NPO stepped in, pointing to rule changes by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and proposed a joint entry coordinated by the public broadcasters' umbrella. More than 400 NPO employees then signed an open letter opposing participation, sent earlier in October. After talks with a staff delegation, the NPO reversed course, saying there was not enough support to send an act.

Sources close to the talks said the broadcasters EO and WNL were willing to help select and support a Dutch entry, although EO said the contest belongs with public broadcasting but does not fit EO itself. Jurre Bosman, the NPO's media director, said constructive ideas had been discussed until the previous evening, including a combination of broadcasters, but that the final step was too big:

“The last step of sending people and putting a signature to it was just too big, given how sensitive the participation of Israel is.”

Broadcasters, unions and the EBU

NPO chair Jet de Ranitz said the NPO had initially seen enough backing for a return, but no suitable formula emerged, and that it is still too early for a 2027 entry. She called it irresponsible to oblige a broadcaster to take on such a sensitive and polarising subject. The NPO could formally have required the broadcaster NTR to organise the entry, but chose not to. The EBU has decided that countries at war can no longer host the contest, following the dispute over Israel's participation.

In Belgium, the VRT unions ACOD-VRT and ACV VRT urged VRT management on 27 October to follow the Dutch example and withdraw from the 2027 contest, and floated a petition. VRT said it had taken note of the Dutch decision, which it described as the result of internal deliberation, and that it does not undo changes already set in motion within the EBU. The Czech broadcaster has also declined to take part, citing budget reasons. The NOS will carry the contest with commentary, a pre-show, both semi-finals and the final.

What is still open

Spain's position is reported differently. De Standaard says Spain has announced it will not take part for a second year, alongside Ireland and Iceland, while El Confidencial says Spain has not yet given an answer. ANSA reports that Spain could confirm a boycott soon. The 2027 final is scheduled for 15 May in Burgas, according to Berliner Zeitung.