Dutch public broadcaster to boycott ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision

What the report says

Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS said it will not take part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, arguing that the event can no longer be considered neutral amid escalating international conflicts, including the war in Gaza. The announcement was reported by Al Jazeera on 24 August 2026 and marks another sign of widening pressure on the contest over Israel’s participation.

According to the broadcaster, the competition’s supposed neutral character has been undermined and has become a platform for division. AVROTROS also said recent changes announced by organisers did not give enough confidence that Eurovision’s independent and neutral status had been restored. The decision follows a period of repeated boycotts and public criticism directed at the contest.

Al Jazeera reported that Eurovision organisers recently said they would exclude any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the event. Even so, the Dutch broadcaster said those steps were not sufficient. Israel finished second in both the 2025 and 2026 editions, and several countries had already pulled out of the 2026 contest in protest.

The broader backdrop is that Eurovision, a long-running international music competition, has increasingly been pulled into political disputes in Europe and beyond. This year’s event drew a smaller audience than the previous edition after five countries boycotted over Israel’s participation, according to the report.