A major Dutch broadcaster has pulled out of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest as the event can ‘no longer be considered neutral’ over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

AVROTROS, which also boycotted this year’s competition in Vienna, announced that it would not be taking part in Eurovision 2027 as the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East were having a significant impact on the contest.

The broadcaster’s director-general Taco Zimmerman said: ‘It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character.

‘The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division.’

AVROTROS previously pointed at the humanitarian crisis that Israel inflicted on Gaza, as well as concerns over press freedom, while explaining its decision to boycott the 2026 Eurovision.

The broadcaster said that the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) recently announced changes have not provided sufficient confidence that Eurovision’s ‘independent and neutral character’ could be restored.

It has informed Dutch public broadcaster NPO of its decision to boycott the contest again and has given it the responsibility of deciding should the country participate or not.

The Netherlands did not take part in this year’s Eurovision due to Israel’s involvement, with Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Iceland all also boycotting.

Last December, RTE confirmed that Ireland would neither participate in nor broadcast the 2026 contest after the EBU confirmed Israeli broadcaster KAN would be allowed to compete.

RTE has not yet confirmed whether Ireland will participate in Eurovision 2027 or not, though in May, director general Kevin Bakhurst said that there was ‘no reason at the moment’ to change last year’s position.

Next year’s contest is taking place in Burgas, Bulgaria, with the final on May 15. The final list of participating broadcasters and countries will be announced later this year.