Netherlands makes Eurovision U-turn after boycotting 2026 competition over Israel

| Deputy TV editor Published September 24, 2026 10:09am Updated September 24, 2026 10:16am The Netherlands will compete in Eurovision 2027 (Picture: AP Photo/Martin Meissner) The Netherlands will take part in Eurovision 2027 after boycotting the competition over Israel’s participation. In August, AvroTros, the broadcaster that usually ​facilitates the Dutch entry, claimed it would boycott Eurovision for a second year. In a statement, they said that the recent changes made to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) did not provide confidence ‌that the independent and neutral character of Eurovision had been restored. However, the final decision came down to other Dutch broadcasters, and on Wednesday the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO) – the organisation responsible for administering public broadcasting services in the Netherlands – stepped in. The NPO has said that the broadcasting organisation NOS will provide coverage of the contest while an independent panel will select the Dutch participant. ‘It is important that, as a public broadcaster, we remain part of this unifying European event at this moment in particular,’ said Jurre Bosman, NPO’s director of media. The 2027 contest will be held in Bulgaria (Picture: AP Photo/Valentina Petrova) Israel’s participation in Eurovision has sparked protest and criticism (Picture: Alain Pitton/NurPhoto/Shutterstock) The NPO acknowledged that this decision will provoke ‘mixed feelings’ in the Netherlands but said they believe the EBUhas ‘taken significant steps regarding the rules’ of the contest, and that the Netherlands will return. The Netherlands and other nations boycotted the competition in 2026 over the EBU’s refusal to suspend Israel despite the severe civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Eurovision director Martin Green said in a statement: ‘We are delighted to welcome the Netherlands back to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027. ‘We value the constructive conversations we have had with NPO and look forward to working together to reinforce the Contest as a place that truly reflects the spirit of United By Music.’ Several countries boycotted the 2026 contest over Israel’s actions in Gaza (Picture: EPA) Noam Bettan, who represented Israel in 2026, came second in last year’s contest (Picture: Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP via Getty Images) Earlier this month, Ireland confirmed that it will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 after boycotting the 2026 competition. In a statement, the country’s broadcaster said: ‘RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation cannot be justified given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.’ Iceland, Spain and Slovenia also boycotted the 2026 contest. Neither Iceland or Slovena have ruled out participation in the 2027 event, which will be held in Bulgaria. However, the chairman of Spain’s RTVE, José Pablo López, has said he plans to propose that the broadcaster maintain its absence from the contest. Deals of the Day Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind From £700 MacBooks to discounted iPhones, the best Apple tech for studentsb TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.