The Netherlands will return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, even though its former participating broadcaster, AVROTROS, continues to oppose taking part while Israel remains eligible to compete. The Dutch entry will instead be managed by the Netherlands Public Broadcasting system, NPO.
The decision adds a new development to the continuing dispute surrounding Eurovision’s handling of the Israel-Gaza war. Ireland has already confirmed that it will boycott the 2027 contest, while Spain is still considering whether to extend its own withdrawal.
The Netherlands will compete in Eurovision 2027
AVROTROS withdrew from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest and had previously indicated that it would not participate in 2027. The broadcaster said international conflicts had affected the contest’s neutrality and argued that Eurovision had become a platform for division.
Despite that position, NPO has decided that the Netherlands should remain involved. The public broadcasting organisation will take responsibility for the country’s Eurovision participation, while NOS will provide coverage of the contest.
NPO also plans to appoint an independent team of experts to select the Dutch act. This means that the Netherlands will participate under a different organisational arrangement, rather than through AVROTROS’s direct involvement.
What the Dutch decision means
The move separates the Netherlands’ national participation from AVROTROS’s position on the contest. AVROTROS has maintained concerns about Israel’s participation and the wider political circumstances surrounding the competition, but NPO has reached a different institutional decision.
NPO media director Jurre Bosman said the public broadcaster should remain part of what it described as a unifying European event. Eurovision director Martin Green also welcomed the Netherlands’ return and said organisers looked forward to working with NPO.
The decision is therefore a national broadcasting choice, not a new ruling by the European Broadcasting Union or an EU institution. Eurovision is organised within the broadcasting sector and is separate from European Union decision-making.
Why Eurovision is facing renewed controversy
The Netherlands’ return comes after several countries withdrew from the 2026 contest because of Israel’s participation. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain were listed among the countries that did not take part.
The dispute centres on whether Israel’s public broadcaster should remain eligible to compete while the war in Gaza continues. Broadcasters and public authorities have adopted different positions, creating a split between countries that support continued participation and those that believe the contest can no longer be presented as politically neutral.
The issue has placed pressure on Eurovision organisers, who have sought to preserve the competition’s identity as a cultural event while facing criticism from participating broadcasters and governments.
Spain has not yet decided on 2027 participation
Spain’s position remains unresolved. RTVE president José Pablo López has said he would recommend that Spain remain outside the 2027 contest, describing the continued eligibility of Israel’s public broadcaster as deeply painful in light of the situation in Gaza.
However, RTVE has not made a final decision. Spain could therefore still change its position before the 2027 competition, although the broadcaster’s public comments indicate that a continued boycott is under active consideration.
The Spanish decision will be closely watched because it could affect the contest’s political and broadcasting debate beyond the countries that have already confirmed their participation or withdrawal.
Ireland’s position on Eurovision
Ireland has confirmed that it will boycott Eurovision for a second consecutive year in 2027. The decision was linked to what Ireland described as the ongoing loss of life in Gaza.
Ireland’s position differs from the Netherlands’ institutional arrangement. While AVROTROS remains opposed to returning, NPO has chosen to ensure Dutch participation through another part of the public broadcasting system. Ireland, by contrast, has confirmed that it will not compete in 2027.
For Irish viewers, the decision means there will be no Irish entry in the next contest unless the national position changes. The wider debate also illustrates how international conflicts can affect cultural events involving public broadcasters across Europe.
When and where will Eurovision 2027 take place?
The 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place at Arena Burgas in Burgas, Bulgaria. The Netherlands’ entry will be selected by an independent expert team, with NOS responsible for broadcasting the event domestically.
Further details about the Dutch performer, song and selection process have not yet been provided. Spain’s participation also remains subject to a future RTVE decision.
What happens next?
- The Netherlands will prepare a 2027 entry under NPO responsibility.
- NOS will provide Dutch coverage of the contest.
- An independent expert team will select the Dutch act.
- Ireland’s 2027 boycott remains confirmed.
- Spain’s RTVE has not yet reached a final decision.
- Eurovision 2027 is planned for Burgas, Bulgaria.
The key question is whether Spain will join Ireland in remaining outside the contest, or whether it will return despite the continuing disagreement over Israel’s participation. The Netherlands’ decision shows that broadcasters within the same public media system can take different positions on the contest’s future.
Conclusion
The Netherlands will participate in Eurovision 2027 through NPO, despite AVROTROS maintaining its opposition to a return. The decision adds complexity to the wider European dispute over Israel’s eligibility, with Ireland committed to another boycott and Spain still weighing its options. The next major development will be Spain’s final RTVE decision, while preparations continue for the contest in Burgas.
