Netherlands to rejoin Eurovision after Gaza-war boycott

The Netherlands will take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest after its national public broadcaster NPO said it would step in to replace AVROTROS, which had withdrawn over the Gaza conflict.

NPO said Wednesday that the Dutch public broadcaster would again send a Dutch participant from 2027 onwards, with an independent team of experts guiding the selection process.

AVROTROS, which had selected the Dutch entry and broadcast the contest, pulled out in August, saying Eurovision could “no longer be considered neutral” because of divisions over the Gaza war.

NPO said the European Broadcasting Union had since taken “significant steps” on Eurovision rules. It also said it had asked the EBU to make the contest's unifying character an important part of the event again.

The 2027 contest is scheduled for May 15 in Burgas, Bulgaria. The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia pulled out of the 2026 contest over Israel's participation.