EBU reacts to Dutch Eurovision 2027 withdrawal and leaves return open

The European Broadcasting Union issued an official response on 27 October to NPO's decision not to send a Dutch entry to Eurovision 2027. Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green expressed regret over the reversal, while stating that the EBU understood the decision and respected strong feelings about the event among broadcasters and audiences in the Netherlands.

Green recalled that the Netherlands was one of the countries at the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and had helped shape the competition for seven decades. He acknowledged that opinions about Eurovision currently differ within and between countries, arguing that public-service broadcasters should listen carefully to their communities.

In the same statement, the EBU reaffirmed the importance of music and creative exchange in bringing audiences together. The organisation also welcomed the news that Eurovision 2027 would still be broadcast in the Netherlands. Showing the semi-finals and final on television is distinct from selecting and sending a competitive Dutch act.

The EBU explicitly left the possibility of a future Dutch return open. It intends to continue discussions with NPO and Dutch Eurovision fans, but did not specify any year for a comeback. There is therefore no official confirmation that the Netherlands will participate in Eurovision 2028.

This reaction follows NPO's October withdrawal after a September announcement that the Netherlands would return under a new selection model. Song Contest Radar's separate withdrawal report explains the domestic broadcasting decisions; this article focuses on the EBU's published response and its implications.