Dutch broadcaster announces withdrawal from Eurovision amidst Gaza war tensions

The Netherlands has decided not to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest next year, its broadcaster AVROTROS announced on Monday. The broadcaster stated that the event can no longer be seen as neutral due to the ongoing tensions surrounding the Gaza war. Taco Zimmerman, the Director-General of AVROTROS, expressed this sentiment in a statement.

The Eurovision Song Contest has recently faced a wave of boycotts over the inclusion of countries involved in armed conflicts, particularly Israel. The broadcaster does not believe that recent changes have restored the contest's independent and neutral character. Bulgaria will host the 2026 Eurovision event, the first time the Balkan nation will host the contest.

The Netherlands' withdrawal leaves Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia as the other participating European nations. The 2026 contest is expected to draw 131 million viewers, a significant decrease from the 162 million who watched the 2025 event, which saw five countries boycott participation due to Israel's involvement. The Netherlands has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since its inception in 1956 and has won the competition five times, most recently in 2019. The last Eurovision held in 2025 was attended by 162 million viewers.