In a statement released late Wednesday, Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS confirmed it will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, becoming the first country to withdraw under the EBU's new conflict-based hosting restrictions. The decision follows months of debate within the Netherlands over participation in an event that many critics say has become entangled in the Gaza war.
"The situation in Gaza has created an environment where the values of unity and peace that Eurovision stands for are being undermined," an AVROTROS spokesperson said. "We believe it is not appropriate to take part while the conflict continues to polarize the continent."
Earlier in August, the EBU announced that countries actively involved in armed conflict would not be considered for hosting the competition. The policy, seen by many as a response to the controversies surrounding Israel's participation in the 2024 contest in Malmö, Sweden, is now being tested by the Netherlands' withdrawal.
Dutch officials have not directly linked the pullout to any specific candidate or nation's participation. However, sources close to the broadcaster suggest that ongoing pressure from pro-Palestinian groups and the threat of protests played a role in the decision. The Netherlands' move comes amid rising tensions between European nations over the Israel-Hamas war, which has already fractured cultural and sporting exchanges.
The EBU has not yet commented on the withdrawal, but the organization faces growing calls to clarify how its new hosting rules will be enforced. Some member broadcasters have privately expressed concern that the policy could be used to exclude certain countries, raising questions about political interference in a non-political event.
Critics argue that the EBU's rule is both vague and selectively applied. "It seems aimed at preventing Israel from hosting, but what about other conflicts?" said a European media analyst who asked not to be named. "If multiple countries are in conflict, does that mean no one hosts? The rule needs teeth and transparency."
The controversy threatens to overshadow preparations for the 2026 contest, which has yet to be awarded a host city. With the Netherlands out, other nations—including Sweden, Ukraine, and the UK—have been floated as potential hosts, though no official bids have been announced.