The Netherlands returns to Eurovision 2027 after AVROTROS, the Dutch public broadcasting organization responsible for the country’s participation in the festival, announced last August that it would not participate because of Israel’s presence. Now NPO, the organization that groups the Netherlands’ public broadcasters, has decided that the country will indeed take part in the next edition, which will be held in Bulgaria.
AVROTROS maintains its withdrawal, but NPO will directly assume Dutch participation and will seek the formula to organize the 2027 candidacy, while NOS, the public broadcaster, will handle the festival’s broadcast. AVROTROS had explained that Eurovision could no longer be considered a neutral event with Israel’s presence, and described the changes announced by the EBU as insufficient.
The NPO, by contrast, believes that the changes introduced by the EBU to the rules and organization of the festival allow for conditions to be suitable again for participation. The decision therefore means that the Netherlands will be at Eurovision 2027 even though the channel that had been managing its candidacy maintains the boycott.
The Dutch return arrives, moreover, amid a flurry of country movements around Eurovision 2027, as we have reported. Ireland has already confirmed that it will neither participate nor broadcast the festival, and Spain could follow the same path, since the president of RTVE, José Pablo López, will propose to the Board of Directors to maintain the Spanish withdrawal for a second consecutive year due to Israel’s participation. The proposal still needs to be approved by the Council.
The EBU has recently responded that they respect RTVE’s position, although they noted that it would be “disappointing” if Spain did not participate next year, in light of the changes made.
