Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS has announced it will not participate in the next Eurovision Song Contest, due to political interference and Israel’s involvement in the competition.
AVROTROS states that continued participation in the song festival would be “incompatible with the values we stand for.”
But the broadcaster isn’t taking the decision to withdraw lightly. 👇
Here’s why the Netherlands is stepping back
The broadcaster’s withdrawal centres around various events from the 2025 edition of the song contest.
In particular, AVROTROS highlighted “the infringement of universal values such as humanity, press freedom, but also the political interference that occurred during the previous edition.”
They also draw attention to “the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza” and the General Assembly’s decision to allow Israel to continue participating in the song festival.
Despite the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) acknowledging that political interference occurred and announcing preventative measures, AVROTROS wasn’t ready to let things slide.
Firing back, the broadcaster announced that it is “simply too early to speak of a substantial, stable improvement that would allow us to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in a way that aligns with our values.”
What does this mean for Dutch Eurovision fans?
While AVROTROS won’t participate in or broadcast the 2026 contest, the Dutch broadcaster NPO has confirmed that Eurovision will remain accessible to Dutch viewers next year.
And the Dutch aren’t alone in walking out, either.
If you’re a fan of Spain, Ireland, or Slovenia, you’re unlikely to see any of them participating in Eurovision 2026. According to Euronews, the three have confirmed their boycott of the festival, with Iceland still threatening to give the song contest a miss if Israel is allowed to participate.
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