Dutch say won't participate in 'no longer' neutral Eurovision / Photo: Nikolay DOYCHINOV - AFP
-
Kenyan farmers turn to bugs as organic demand grows
-
Pant, Jurel half-centuries take India past 400 in Sri Lanka Test
-
'His feet are his pillars': Nepal para swimmer gives all for Asian glory
-
Migrants, rescue ships face threats, harassment at sea: aid group
-
New Zealand moves to ban social media for under-16s
-
UEFA's Ceferin tells Infantino to go, but 'not interested' in replacing him
-
Hyundai union back in wage talks after rare full-day strike
-
Oil falls as Trump pledges economic war on Iran
-
Shein grapples with EU backlash, but clients keep coming
-
Yamashita marches to nine-shot win in LPGA Canadian Women's Open
-
Key facts about Chinese-founded fast-fashion giant Shein
-
Gauff powers past Pegula to win US Open warm-up in Cincinnati
-
Shein to make market debut in Hong Kong in September
-
Japan's Olympic figure skating heroes to wed
-
Fils tops Tiafoe to claim first ATP Masters title in Cincinnati
-
Cummins eyes ODI return ahead of 'big' South Africa Test series
-
Gauff powers past Pegula to win Cincinnati WTA 1000 crown
-
Quorum Technologies Debuts Bioz Badges to Connect Researchers with Product Evidence
-
Oleria and Happiest Minds Partner to Accelerate Modern Identity Governance for AI-First Enterprises
-
Sinopec Achieves Solid Operating Results in the First Half of 2026
-
India police used excessive force during protests: Amnesty
-
Ukraine backers gather as war escalates, air defence runs low
-
Rookie La Sasso wins LIV season-ender as tour's future in doubt
-
Syria says Israel talks addressed de-escalation, staying out of Israel-Turkey tensions
-
Fils tops Tiafoe to claim first ATP Masters title in Cincinnati bb/amz
-
Tourism boom pushes limits of Athens air traffic control
-
Clark fends off McIlroy to win BMW Championship
-
Liga holders Barcelona crush Elche, Atletico salvage Villarreal draw
-
Raphinha, Lopez hit braces as Barcelona trounce Elche
-
Spain's World Cup hero Torres saves PSG's blushes at Rennes
-
Macron hosts Saudi crown prince for visit ranging from esports to Mideast
-
Swiss forward Embolo joins Atlanta United
-
Jamieson gets Trump call after ending 14-year golf title drought
-
Former cricket captains appeal to Pakistan over Khan health care
-
Norwegian King Harald's health has 'deteriorated': palace
-
Latest 'Spider-Man' tops American box office for 4th weekend
-
Man City snatch late win in Maresca debut, Iraola's Liverpool rescue dramatic draw
-
Szoboszlai's last-gasp leveller rescues Liverpool in Newcastle draw
-
Trump takes starring role at Washington's IndyCar debut
-
Landfill collapse kills 30 in Guinea
-
Villa boss Emery says it's down to Watkins to explain absence
-
'Unbelievable' Cherki proves his point to Man City boss Maresca
-
Duplantis labours to 'super difficult' pole vault win at Silesia Diamond League
-
10-man Atletico snatch Villarreal draw as Alvarez returns
-
Max smash at zany Zandvoort: Three stories from the Dutch GP
-
Seville, Jefferson-Wooden roar to 100m wins at Silesia Diamond League
-
Brennan sprints to Vuelta stage two victory, Pogacar keeps red
-
VW chief warns carmaker's situation 'more than critical'
-
Duplantis conquers pole vault at Silesia Diamond League
-
England cricketer Carse under investigation after 'nightclub incident'
Dutch say won't participate in 'no longer' neutral Eurovision
The Netherlands will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, its broadcaster said Monday, saying 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. The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division," said Taco Zimmerman, Director-General of AVROTROS in a statement from the broadcaster.
The contest has recently been hit by a wave of boycotts over Israel's participation.
Earlier this month, organisers announced they were excluding any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the 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.
Israel came close to winning the competition in both 2025 and 2026, ultimately finishing second on each occasion.
Next year's event, the world's biggest live televised music event, will take place on May 15 in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Burgas.
It will be the first time that the Balkan nation hosts the contest, coming after Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, known as Dara, won this year's contest in the Austrian capital Vienna with the catchy floor-filler "Bangaranga".
Since its launch in 1955, Eurovision has become the ultimate pop platform, catapulting Swedish icons ABBA to worldwide fame, as well as boosting the likes of Celine Dion, Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John.
The 2026 competition was watched by 131 million viewers, down 35 million on the year before after five countries boycotted it over Israel's participation.
The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all pulled out of the contest -- with the latter three refusing to broadcast the show at all.
The Dutch took part in the very first Eurovision Song Contest back in 1956, and have won on five occasions.
The most recent winner was Duncan Laurence whose song Arcade won the contest in 2019, going on to top charts globally.
It became the first Eurovision entry to reach one billion streams on Spotify, according to the Eurovision website.
The withdrawal is "painful as we would have very much liked to be part of the Contest again next year," said Zimmerman.
"As a public broadcaster, we remain committed to our values. They guide us in everything we do, even when that means stepping away from an event that is very close to our hearts," he added.
A.Malone--AMWN