The Netherlands will participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest after boycotting this year's event. The U-turn comes after responsibility for the Dutch entry was handed over from public service broadcaster Avrotros to NPO.
In August, Avrotros withdrew from the contest and appeared to blame Israel's continued participation for its decision, citing “humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing restrictions on press freedom.”
Broadcaster statement
In a statement on NPO's website, the broadcaster said Avrotros had withdrawn responsibility because of “sensitivities” surrounding the competition, and that it would put forward a Dutch entry for the 2027 contest. The statement added: “Those sensitivities have not gone away. Over the past period, the NPO has held extensive discussions with the EBU about this.”
The organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have changed the rules for 2027 so that the winning broadcaster will “automatically be ineligible to host” if their state is involved in an “armed conflict” or “sensitive geopolitical situation.” The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said the rule changes followed feedback from participating broadcasters and would provide greater clarity for artists and production staff.
Rule changes and selection
The NPO statement continued: “In the meantime, the EBU has taken important steps regarding the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest. These changes came about partly thanks to critical public broadcasters that engaged in the debate. In the discussions that followed Avrotros's withdrawal, we agreed with the EBU to once again place the original starting point of the festival at the heart of the event.” An independent team of experts will guide the selection of the Dutch entry.
The Netherlands was one of several countries that boycotted the 2026 event in Vienna, Austria, because of Israel's participation, along with Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia. There were protests in the Austrian capital during Eurovision over Israel's inclusion.
Reaction and next steps
Jet de Ranitz, chair of the board at NPO, said: “We understand that taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest gives rise to mixed feelings in the Netherlands. We have explicitly asked the EBU to make the unifying character of the contest a central part of the event once again, in recognition of a time of geopolitical unrest, war and polarisation. The song contest was founded to bring the people of Europe together after the Second World War. We are seeking that connection again now, by taking account of what is happening in the world, but by making room for a conversation about it. To help shape and carry forward that direction, we as Dutch public broadcasting want to be part of the Eurovision Song Contest again. That way we can truly live up to United by Music together.”
Next year's contest will take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, after the country's entrant Dara won this year's event with her song Bangaranga. Israeli entrant Noam Bettan finished second. Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Netherlands back to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027. We value the constructive conversations we have had with NPO and look forward to working together to reinforce the contest as a place that truly reflects the spirit of United by Music. In a world that is increasingly divided, the Eurovision Song Contest provides a unique space for people and countries to come together through music, share in a common experience and find connection.”
