AvroTros Extends Eurovision Boycott into 2027
Dutch public broadcaster AvroTros has confirmed it will again refuse to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest next year, marking a second consecutive boycott. The move comes in protest against Israel’s ongoing policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, which AvroTros describes as incompatible with the contest’s stated values of inclusivity and peace.
Key Points of the Protest
- No national selection: AvroTros will not organize or televise a Dutch preselection competition for Eurovision 2027.
- No contest coverage: The broadcaster also opts out of airing any live or recorded Eurovision events, including semifinals and the grand final.
- Solidarity stance: In announcing the boycott, AvroTros emphasized the need for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to uphold political neutrality and human rights standards.
Reactions from Stakeholders
The Dutch public broadcasting system is complex: while AvroTros handles programming, the national telecom broadcaster NOS retains the Netherlands’ voting rights and administrative role within the EBU. NOS issued a brief statement expressing regret at AvroTros’s decision but affirmed its commitment to ensuring Dutch viewers can still follow the contest through online streams or partner channels.
On the international stage, several broadcasters have distanced themselves from AvroTros’s position. Germany’s ARD and Sweden’s SVT have both pledged to cover Eurovision 2027 in full, while France Télévisions labeled the boycott “misguided.” Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian organizations in Europe have applauded AvroTros’s firm stance as a meaningful act of solidarity.
Context and Next Steps
This marks the second consecutive year that AvroTros has abstained from Eurovision, after first withdrawing in protest of the 2026 contest hosted in Tel Aviv. The Dutch entry in 2025, “Lost and Found” by singer-songwriter Jet van der Linden, reached the semifinals but did not advance to the final—an outcome critics have partially attributed to the broadcaster’s waning support.
Eurovision 2027 is set to take place in Rotterdam, following the Netherlands’ victory in 2026. Despite AvroTros’s boycott, dozens of other participating countries remain on schedule to compete. Eurovision fans in the Netherlands may still form informal viewing parties or follow updates via social media, but official domestic broadcast coverage will once again be absent.