AVROTROS, the Dutch national broadcaster, has announced today that The Netherlands will not participate at the forthcoming 2026 Eurovision edition.
Following the results from today’s EBU’s General Assembly regarding the participation of Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 the Dutch national broadcaster has dediced to withdraw from the contest next year.
AVROTROS’s official press release reads:
. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026
AVROTROS has decided not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026. This decision follows a careful and extensive deliberation process in which we consulted a broad range of stakeholders: from the Israeli ambassador to Amnesty International, from the EBU to several European public broadcasters, as well as our own Association Council, Works Council, Supervisory Board, and the many thousands of Eurovision fans who reached out to us. After weighing all perspectives, AVROTROS concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation. This decision was taken in close coordination with the Dutch Public Broadcasting (NPO), which respects and supports the conclusions we have drawn.
Review of the Process
On 12 September 2025, AVROTROS noted that the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza, the restrictions on press freedom, and the political interference surrounding the most recent edition of the Eurovision Song Contest were incompatible with the values we stand for. In that context, AVROTROS concluded that participation by the Israeli broadcaster KAN in this year could no longer be aligned with our responsibilities as a public broadcaster. Reliability, independence, and humanity are our guiding principles.
EBU Response and Developments
The EBU has acknowledged that political interference occurred during the previous edition and has announced additional measures to prevent a recurrence. However, these measures do not alter what happened during the last contest. Today, the General Assembly decided that Israel will be allowed to participate in 2026. At the same time, the meeting made clear that concerns about the neutrality and apolitical character of the Eurovision Song Contest remain significant among several European public broadcasters.
Conclusion
What unfolded over the past year, including the infringement of universal values such as humanity, press freedom, but also the political interference that occurred during the previous edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, crossed a boundary for us. That remains decisive for AVROTROS, regardless of the steps taken since. Additionally, the situation in Gaza remains extremely fragile and deeply concerning. At this moment, it is simply too early to speak of a substantial, stable improvement that would allow us to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in a way that aligns with our values.
Taco Zimmerman (General Director of AVROTROS) says:
“This has not been an easy decision, nor one taken lightly. The Eurovision Song Contest is of great importance to us. Culture unites, but not at any price. What has happened over the past year has tested the limits of what we can uphold. Universal values such as humanity and press freedom have been seriously compromised, and for us, these values are non-negotiable. As a public broadcaster, we have a responsibility to remain true to our core values, even when that is difficult or sensitive.”
