Ireland’s state broadcaster announced on Thursday that it would withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participate in Eurovision 2026. And the following morning the Dutch broadcaster followed suite.
In a strongly worded statement, AVROTROS said it “can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, giving the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza.”
We’re publishing the complete statement below.
The Netherlands will quit Eurovision 2026 if Israel participate (Press Release)
AVROTROS links participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest to core values
In recent months, AVROTROS has held regular consultations with the EBU and other European public broadcasters regarding the future and character of the Eurovision Song Contest. These discussions also extensively addressed the question of whether Israel can be represented under the current circumstances.
The Eurovision Song Contest was founded in 1956 to unite people after a period of deep division and war. Since its inception seventy years ago, music has been central to its unifying nature, with its core values of peace, equality, and respect.
AVROTROS can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza. Furthermore, the broadcaster expresses grave concern about the serious violation of press freedom: the deliberate exclusion of independent international reporting and the numerous casualties among journalists. Furthermore, there has been proven interference by the Israeli government during the last edition of the Song Contest, with the event being used as a political instrument. This contradicts the apolitical nature of the Song Contest. These circumstances conflict with the values that AVROTROS represents as a public broadcaster.
Therefore, the broadcaster has decided that AVROTROS’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will not be possible as long as Israel remains admitted by the EBU. If the EBU decides not to admit Israel, AVROTROS will be happy to participate next year. Pending that decision, all preparations are continuing as usual.
I expect a cascade of announcements of national broadcasters that they will do the same any time soon now following Slovenia, Ireland and The Netherlands.
The Netherlands is allegedly the 6th net contributor after the Big5 countries.
With Spain’s threat to withdraw the contest now is in serious financial peril and let’s hope Maroccanoil won’t account for the loss of contribution fees from the withdrawing nations. Then EBU can’t do nothing but to expel Israel
‘AVROTROS said it can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza.’ Oh, how noble.., but i wonder, what kind of ‘justification meter’ do these countries use to measure ‘human suffering’, and why did the agony of the Armenians of Artsakh never register on their scale? For those unaware: dictatorial Azerbaijan – a ‘reliable partner’ of the EU thanks to oil and gas – terrorized the Armenian-populated Republic of Artsakh between 2020 and 2023, (btw. with Israel’s help), until they succeeded in expelling the entire Armenian population from their millennia-old… Read more »
A ban of Israel is really a necessary development to save future of the contest. I think it will take a long time for Israel and Russia to gain European trust again.
Sweet. Looking at how Israel does it’s PR (poor us), they’ll withdraw before they’re removed. There’s better ‘spin-ability’ with that option. Good on ya Netherlands. Belgium next?
Way too late, but happy my country finally is taking this step!