Dutch public broadcaster to boycott ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision

Notably, the public broadcaster in the Netherlands has confirmed it will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest since the event can "no longer be considered neutral" due to ongoing divisions over the war in Gaza.

Key points

• Israel finished second in the competition – the world's largest live televised music event – in both 2025 and 2026.
• After five countries boycotted over Israel's participation, nevertheless, this year's competition pulled in 131 million viewers, 35 million fewer than last year.
• The contest on May 15 will be the first time the Balkan nation has hosted.
• Do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored, the AVROTROS statement continued.
• The widely-watched show has lately faced a series of boycotts over Israel's participation.

"It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character. The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division, " remarked Taco Zimmerman, Director-General of AVROTROS, in an official note on Monday.

For context, the widely-watched show has lately faced a series of boycotts over Israel's participation. Organisers confirmed earlier this month that they would exclude any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the competition.

"However, the recently announced changes. Do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored, " the AVROTROS statement continued.

After Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, known as Dara, won this year's contest in Vienna, Austria, with her catchy floor-filler 'Bangaranga', next year's Eurovision is due to be held in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Burgas. The contest on May 15 will be the first time the Balkan nation has hosted.

While additionally boosting the careers of artists such as Celine Dion, Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John, since its launch in 1955, Eurovision has become the ultimate pop platform, catapulting Swedish icons ABBA to worldwide fame.

After five countries boycotted over Israel's participation, nevertheless, this year's competition pulled in 131 million viewers, 35 million fewer than last year. The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia all pulled out, with the latter three refusing to broadcast the show at all.

For now, dutch public broadcaster to boycott 'no longer' neutral Eurovision remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.