Netherlands to return to Eurovision after 2026 boycott
The country did not participate in this year's contest but will return next year in Bulgaria.
The Netherlands will return to the Eurovision Song Contest next year, despite a boycott by the broadcaster that had previously handled the country’s participation.
The Netherlands last competed in Eurovision in 2025, when Claude represented the country.
Dutch broadcaster Avrotros pulled out in 2026 and said it would also skip 2027, arguing the contest could "no longer be considered neutral" amid disputes over Israel’s involvement and the Gaza war.
The NPO, which oversees public broadcasting in the Netherlands, has now taken over, saying the contest will be shown by broadcasting organisation NOS, while an independent panel will choose the Dutch entrant.
Jurre Bosman, NPO's director of media, said: "It is important that, as a public broadcaster, we remain part of this unifying European event at this moment in particular."
Israel’s participation has become highly contentious, and five countries, including the Netherlands, boycotted this year’s event.
In August, Eurovision organiser the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said it would bar any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the competition.
That means Israel can still take part, but if it wins it would need another country to host on its behalf.
The EBU has also suggested changes to the voting system, saying politically motivated voting had become "persistent" and was widely viewed as "deeply worrying.
However, Avrotros said those changes did "not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored".
In its statement on Wednesday, the NPO said the EBU had "taken significant steps regarding the rules" of the contest.
While acknowledging that the contest stirs "mixed feelings" in the Netherlands, the NPO said it had "explicitly asked the EBU to once again make the unifying character of the festival an important part of the event".
The NPO also said the Dutch act would be selected by "an independent team of experts" who would "carefully guide the process surrounding the act".
Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia also withdrew from the 2026 contest alongside the Netherlands.
The 2027 contest will be held on 14 May in Burgas, after Bulgarian singer Dara won this year’s contest with Bangaranga.
Eurovision director Martin Green said in a statement: "We are delighted to welcome the Netherlands back to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027.
"We value the constructive conversations we have had with NPO and look forward to working together to reinforce the Contest as a place that truly reflects the spirit of 'United By Music'."