News - South China Morning Post
· collected 2026-08-24 · by Agence France-Presse
The Netherlands has withdrawn from next year's Eurovision Song Contest due to its concerns that the event can no longer be considered neutral given the divisions over the Gaza war. The country's broadcaster, AVROTROS, stated that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest and making it a platform for division. Israel's participation in the contest is cited as one of the factors contributing to these divisions, despite having come close to winning the competition in 2025 and 2026. According to AVROTROS, recent changes made by the organizers do not provide sufficient confidence that the contest can be restored to its neutral character.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Netherlands will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, according to its broadcaster AVROTROS, due to concerns that the event has become politicized and can no longer be considered neutral. This decision comes after a wave of boycotts over Israel's participation in the contest, which was recently hit by controversy when organizers announced they would exclude countries involved in armed conflicts from hosting the competition. The Netherlands' withdrawal is specifically attributed to the changes not providing sufficient confidence that Eurovision has restored its independent and neutral character. Israel had come close to winning the competition in both 2021 and 2022.
Written for “Eurovision Controversy Grows” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 2070 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
Netherlands withdraws from ‘no longer’ neutral Eurovision
asserted
Netherlands → withdraw → Eurovision
Its Dutch broadcaster says the contest, which has been hit by a wave of boycotts over Israel’s participation, has ‘become a platform for division’
asserted
which → say → division
The Netherlands will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, its broadcaster has said, adding that the event can “no longer be considered neutral” given divisions over the Gaza war.
“It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest, undermining its neutral character.
asserted
conflicts → participate → character
The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division,” said Taco Zimmerman, director general of AVROTROS, in a statement from the broadcaster on Monday.
asserted
Zimmerman → become → Monday
The contest has recently been hit by a wave of boycotts over Israel’s participation.
asserted
contest → hit → participation
Earlier this month, organisers announced they were excluding any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the competition.
asserted
they → announce → competition
“However, the recently announced changes … do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored,” said the AVROTROS statement.
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statement → announce → Contest
Israel came close to winning the competition in both 2025 and 2026, ultimately finishing second on each occasion.
asserted
Israel → come → occasion
