The Netherlands will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if it includes an Israeli entry, according to Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS. It cited “the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza” as its motivation for such action.
Dutch threats were made to the competition’s organiser the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on Friday, September 12th:
AVROTROS’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will not be possible as long as Israel remains admitted by the EBU.
Sore loser AVROTROS linked its decision to Israel’s security campaign in Gaza, as well as what it described as “serious violation of press freedom” by the Israelis.
The demands from the Netherlands reinforce those of other European broadcasters, including Ireland and Spain. On Thursday, seven-time Eurovision winner Ireland said it would not take part alongside Israel, while disaster-prone Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared back in May that Israel should be excluded in future.
AVROTROS also accused Israel of
proven interference… during the last edition of the Song Contest, with the event being used as a political instrument.
Despite hostility from European leaders and security threats during last year’s contest, Israel still won the popular vote in 15 countries, showing broad public support—perhaps more in solidarity after the Hamas-led October 7th pogrom, than for the actual music.
