AVROTROS, the Dutch national broadcaster, has confirmed that it will not participate in Eurovision 2026 if Israel does.
AVROTROS has confirmed that it will withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel is allowed to participate. The broadcaster previously stated that it was still in discussions with the EBU over its participation in the contest, while continuing the song selection process.
The statement from AVROTROS reads as follows:
“Human suffering, the suppression of press freedom and political interference are at odds with the values of public broadcasting.
In recent months, AVROTROS has engaged in regular consultations with the EBU and other European public broadcasters regarding the future and nature of the Eurovision Song Contest. These discussions have also given extensive consideration to whether Israel can be represented under the current circumstances.
The Eurovision Song Contest was founded in 1956 to bring people together after a period of deep division and war. Since its inception seventy years ago, music has been at the heart of the Contest as a unifying force, with peace, equality, and respect as its core values.
AVROTROS can no longer justify Israelโs participation in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza. The broadcaster also expresses deep concern about the serious erosion of press freedom: the deliberate exclusion of independent international reporting and the many casualties among journalists. In addition, there is proven evidence of interference by the Israeli government during the most recent edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, in which the event was used as a political instrument. This runs counter to the apolitical nature of the Contest. These circumstances are incompatible with the values represented by AVROTROS as a public broadcaster.
The broadcaster has therefore decided that participation by AVROTROS in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will not be possible as long as Israel is admitted by the EBU. Should the EBU decide not to admit Israel, AVROTROS will gladly take part next year. Pending that decision, all preparations will for the time being continue as planned.”
AVROTROS is the fourth broadcaster to announce its intention to withdraw from next yearโs contest in Vienna over Israelโs participation. RTVSLO (Slovenia),ย RรV (Iceland) and RTร (Ireland) also stated that they would not compete if Israel takes part.
Claude represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel with โCโest la vieโ. He placed 12th in the final, scoring 175 points. He was 5th with the jury vote and 15th with the public vote.
Image source: Sarah Louise Bennett/ EBU | Source: AVROTROS
The Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
The Netherlands debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and has gone on to compete in all but four contests. The Netherlands has won the contest on five occasions; 1957, 1959, 1969, 1975 and most recently 2019. Prior to Duncan Laurenceโs victory in Tel Aviv, the Netherlands had been waiting 44 years for their next victory. Duncan Laurence won the contest in Tel Aviv with the song โArcadeโ.
