Wire reporting: (AP, via ClickOrlando)

The Netherlands will not send an act to the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, public broadcaster NPO said Tuesday, reversing a pledge last month to return after sitting out 2026^1,2,3.

NPO media director Jurre Bosman said Israel's participation produces mixed public reaction and division, and that after consulting the board of broadcasters NPO would forgo 2027^1,2,6.

NPO chair Jet de Ranitz said talks with Dutch public broadcasters had at first seemed to show enough support to return, but no suitable format was found^1,4. De Ranitz said it was too early to take part and that NPO would take a step back for now because of sensitivities around current themes^3,6. NPO said the contest would still be shown on Dutch public channels^1,2.

AVROTROS, which usually picks the Dutch entry and airs the show, said in August it would not take part, arguing the event could no longer be treated as neutral^2,3,6. NPO then said in September it would take over the entry, before Tuesday's reversal^1,2.

The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia boycotted the 2026 contest over Israel's participation amid criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza^1,4,6. Ireland has already said it will not enter in 2027, and the head of Spain's public broadcaster has backed a boycott^1,3,6. The Czech public broadcaster also withdrew from 2027, citing spending cuts rather than Israel^2,3,6.

Eurovision director Martin Green said he was deeply sorry the Netherlands would not take part, understood the decision, and still saw the contest as a rare shared cultural event¹. Organizers said in August that a country in an armed conflict or similar security situation could not host^2,3,6.

The 2027 contest is due in Burgas, Bulgaria, after Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, known as Dara, won in Vienna^2,3,6. RTÉ listed the grand final for May 15 at Arena Burgas, with semifinals on May 11 and 13⁶.