Rome, 24 Aug. (LaPresse) – The Netherlands will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 because the event “is no longer neutral”, given that one of the participating countries is still involved in a large-scale military conflict. This was announced by the Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros. “Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are having an excessive impact on the Song Contest and have led to deep divisions. Over the past year, Avrotros has urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to establish transparent rules regarding the participation of countries involved in military conflicts. However, the changes recently announced by the EBU do not offer sufficient guarantees regarding the restoration of the song contest’s independent and neutral character. Participation is therefore incompatible with the broadcaster’s values: reliability, independence and humanity”, the document states, “the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing attacks on press freedom have led to growing division surrounding the song contest in recent years. For example, five countries have decided not to take part in 2026, previous winners have returned their trophies, and over a thousand musicians and cultural workers have called on the EBU to take action in an open letter. This underlines the need for a clear assessment framework for countries involved in military conflict. What circumstances make participation compatible or incompatible with the neutral nature of the song contest? It is still unclear to the broadcaster on what basis the EBU carries out such an assessment.”“ The Eurovision Song Contest was created with the aim of uniting people and nations. But there is no denying that an international conflict is increasingly permeating the event, causing it to lose its neutral character. Consequently, the Song Contest has become a stage for division. As a public broadcaster, we remain true to our values. It is these values that guide us, even if it means withdrawing from an event that is very close to our hearts. It is painful, because we would have liked to take part again next year,” said Taco Zimmerman, Director-General of Avrotros, who has informed the non-profit organisation of the decision and is handing back responsibility for the Netherlands’ participation in the song contest. The non-profit organisation will decide on the next steps for 2027.
Eurovision: Netherlands boycott over Gaza: ‘The contest is no longer neutral’
Rome, 24 Aug. (LaPresse) – The Netherlands will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 because the event “is no longer neutral”, given that one of the participating countries is still involved in a large-scale military conflict. This was announced by the Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros. “Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are having an excessive impact on the Song Contest and have led to deep divisions. Over the past year, Avrotros has urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to establish transparent rules regarding the participation of countries involved in military conflicts. However, the changes recently announced by the EBU do not offer sufficient guarantees regarding the restoration of the song contest’s independent and neutral character. Participation is therefore incompatible with the broadcaster’s values: reliability, independence and humanity”, the document states, “the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing attacks on press freedom have led to growing division surrounding the song contest in recent years. For example, five countries have decided not to take part in 2026, previous winners have returned their trophies, and over a thousand musicians and cultural workers have called on the EBU to take action in an open letter. This underlines the need for a clear assessment framework for countries involved in military conflict. What circumstances make participation compatible or incompatible with the neutral nature of the song contest? It is still unclear to the broadcaster on what basis the EBU carries out such an assessment.”“ The Eurovision Song Contest was created with the aim of uniting people and nations. But there is no denying that an international conflict is increasingly permeating the event, causing it to lose its neutral character. Consequently, the Song Contest has become a stage for division. As a public broadcaster, we remain true to our values. It is these values that guide us, even if it means withdrawing from an event that is very close to our hearts. It is painful, because we would have liked to take part again next year,” said Taco Zimmerman, Director-General of Avrotros, who has informed the non-profit organisation of the decision and is handing back responsibility for the Netherlands’ participation in the song contest. The non-profit organisation will decide on the next steps for 2027.