The broadcaster insisted “geopolitical tensions in the Middle East” were having a big impact on Eurovision, causing “major divisions”.
The EBU updated its rules recently so that if a country at war wins the competition, it will not be allowed to host it the following year, as is normally the case.
Darina Nikolaeva Yotova, aka Dara, who represented Bulgaria with the song 'Bangaranga', celebrates with the trophy after winning Eurovision 2026 (ESC) at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria on May 16, 2026. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images
The Avrotros statement read: “The severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the ongoing attacks on press freedom have led to increasing division surrounding the Song Contest in recent years.
"For instance, five countries decided not to participate in 2026, former winners returned their trophies, and more than a thousand musicians and cultural creators called on the EBU to intervene in an open letter.
“This underscores the need for a clear assessment framework for countries involved in a military conflict.
“Which circumstances make participation compatible with or incompatible with the neutral nature of the Song Contest?
"It remains unclear to the broadcaster on what basis the EBU makes that assessment.”
Avrotros is not the only public broadcaster in the Netherlands so it is still possible that another of the country’s TV companies will show Eurovision 2027, which will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria.
It will be the second year in a row that Avrotros has snubbed the popular competition.
The Netherlands refused to take part in this year's contest, held in Vienna, Austria, because Israel was involved.
Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain also boycotted the competition
but Israel's Noam Bettan still came second with his song Michelle.
Eurovision 2026 was watched live on by 132 million people worldwide.
The director of Eurovision, Martin Green, said the EBU “regretted” the decision by Avrotros but “understood their choice”.
He said: "We will now continue our dialogue with NPO, the umbrella organisation for Dutch public service media, regarding the opportunities for another broadcaster to participate.
"We very much hope that audiences and artists in the Netherlands can continue to be represented in the Eurovision Song Contest."
Taco Zimmerman, director general of Avrotros, said the Eurovision Song Contest "was originally created to bring people and countries together" but was now "a platform for division".
He stated: “It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest, undermining its neutral character.
"The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division. As a public broadcaster, we remain committed to our values."
He added: "They guide us in everything we do, even when that means stepping away from an event that is very close to our hearts. That is painful as we would have very much liked to be part of the contest again next year."
The amended EBU rules dictate that countries involved in “armed conflict” or any other “sensitive geopolitical situation” will not be permitted to host the competition.
A country will “automatically be ineligible to host the contest if an armed conflict, a sensitive geopolitical situation, or any other situation materially affects the security, safety or stability of their state or immediate region”.
