{
  "id": 2989214,
  "title": "Netherlands says Eurovision is ‘no longer’ neutral as it withdraws from 2027 contest over Gaza‑linked divisions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/netherlands-says-eurovision-is-no-longer-neutral-as-it-withdraws-from",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T09:21:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2026/08/24/netherlands-says-eurovision-is-no-longer-neutral-as-it-withdraws-from-2027-contest-over-gazalinked-divisions/232513"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Netherlands has announced it will not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing divisions over the Gaza war as the reason for its withdrawal. AVROTROS, the broadcaster responsible, stated that the event can \"no longer be considered neutral\" because international conflicts are increasingly impacting the contest and undermining its neutral character.\n\nTaco Zimmerman, the Director-General of AVROTROS, expressed disappointment in the statement, saying it is \"painful\" for the Netherlands to miss the contest. The broadcaster remains committed to its values, however. The decision comes after a series of boycotts over Israel's participation in recent years. Bulgaria will host the 2027 event on May 15 in Burgas, marking the first time the Balkan nation will host the contest.\n\nThe 2026 Eurovision contest was watched by 131 million viewers, down 35 million from the previous year due to the boycotts. The Netherlands, along with Iceland, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, pulled out of the competition, with the latter three refusing to broadcast the show. The Dutch have participated in the contest since its inception in 1956 and have won five times, with Duncan Laurence's Arcade winning in 2019.",
  "summary": "THE HAGUE, Aug 24 — The Netherlands will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, its broadca...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "The Netherlands will not participate in the 'no longer neutral' 2027 Eurovision Song Contest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/the-netherlands-will-not-participate-in-the-no-longer-neutral-2027",
        "published": "2026-08-24T08:43:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Dutch say won't participate in 'no longer' neutral Eurovision",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dutch-say-wont-participate-in-no-longer-neutral-eurovision",
        "published": "2026-08-24T08:56:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Netherlands withdraws from ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/netherlands-withdraws-from-no-longer-neutral-eurovision",
        "published": "2026-08-24T09:30:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Dutch public broadcaster to boycott ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dutch-public-broadcaster-to-boycott-no-longer-neutral-eurovision",
        "published": "2026-08-24T10:42:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Dutch broadcaster Avrotros pulls out of 2027 Eurovision Song Contest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dutch-broadcaster-avrotros-pulls-out-of-2027-eurovision-song-contest",
        "published": "2026-08-24T10:54:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Dutch say won’t participate in ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dutch-say-wont-participate-in-no-longer-neutral-eurovision-3017443",
        "published": "2026-08-24T11:34:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Dutch Pull Out of 'No Longer Neutral' Eurovision",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/dutch-pull-out-of-no-longer-neutral-eurovision-3009935",
        "published": "2026-08-24T11:54:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}