Dutch Broadcaster Withdraws from Eurovision 2026
Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS has announced it will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to compete. The decision comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding Israel's participation in the annual music competition.
'We cannot justify Israel's participation given the continuing and serious human suffering in Gaza,' stated AVROTROS in an official press release.
International Solidarity Movement
The Netherlands joins Slovenia, Ireland, Spain, and Iceland in threatening to boycott the event. Slovenia and Ireland have already confirmed their withdrawal, while Spain and Iceland are considering similar action. This represents a significant challenge for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the competition.
The NPO, the Dutch public broadcasting organization, has expressed support for AVROTROS's decision, confirming that no alternative Dutch broadcaster would replace them if they withdraw.
Allegations of Interference
AVROTROS also cited concerns about "proven interference by the Israeli government during the last edition of the Song Contest." During the 2025 competition in Basel, Israel finished second thanks to high public voting numbers, prompting multiple countries to demand investigations into potential vote manipulation.
The broadcaster accused Israel of politicizing the event, stating this "goes against the apolitical character of the Eurovision Song Contest."
Press Freedom Concerns
Additional concerns were raised about the "serious impairment of press freedom" in Gaza, including the "deliberate exclusion of international, independent reporting and the many victims among journalists."
AVROTROS emphasized that their participation remains conditional on the EBU's decision regarding Israel's admission for the 2026 contest.
International Reactions
The Israeli embassy in the Netherlands condemned the decision on social media platform X, calling it "a sign of moral failure" and accusing AVROTROS of "choosing to exclude the entire Israeli society."
Israeli media outlets have expressed concern about a potential "snowball effect," with Ynet news noting that while Ireland and Slovenia are "not strong countries in the EBU," the Netherlands' withdrawal could influence other concerned nations like Spain, Sweden, Iceland, and Belgium to follow suit.
As the sixth-largest financial contributor to the Eurovision Song Contest, the Netherlands' absence could significantly impact the event's funding and organization.
This marks only the third time in Eurovision history that the Netherlands has chosen not to participate, with previous absences in 1985 and 1991 due to scheduling conflicts with the National Remembrance Day.