Netherlands Will Not Join 2027 Eurovision Song Contest as Protest Over Israel's Participation Continues
The Netherlands will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, as no broadcaster is willing to take responsibility for the Dutch entry due to concern over Israel's participation, broadcaster association NPO said on Tuesday, October 27, Reuters reported. The decision extends the Dutch boycott of the contest into a second year.
Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands all boycotted the 2026 edition in May in protest at the participation of Israel and its military offensive in Gaza. The NPO said last month it was confident the Netherlands would return to the contest next year, after the boycott, as it felt the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had responded to criticism by countries that had not participated in 2026. But ultimately no Dutch broadcaster was willing to facilitate the Dutch bid.
The Eurovision Song Contest, organised by the EBU, is one of the world's most-watched live music events. Israel's participation has remained contested since the Gaza war, with broadcasters in several competing countries facing domestic pressure. The NPO statement did not set out further arrangements, and the full line-up for the 2027 contest has yet to be announced by the organisers.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 欧洲歌唱大赛的玻璃麦克风奖杯（资料图，2019年）。Martin Fjellanger 摄，EuroVisionary，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The Eurovision Song Contest glass microphone trophy (file photo, 2019). Photo by Martin Fjellanger, EuroVisionary, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
