VRT confirms Belgium’s participation in 2027 Eurovision amid ongoing protests

Flemish broadcaster VRT has confirmed that Belgium will participate in the 2027 Eurovision song contest in Bulgaria, despite backlash from other European countries and even boycotts of the programme over the war between Israel and Palestine.

The artist who will represent Belgium has not yet been announced.

VRT had originally declined to commit to participating unless a debate was opened regarding Israel’s participation in the contest.

Now the broadcaster is saying that it intends “to give a chance to the movement within the European Broadcast Union (EBU) that is striving to restore the original values of this international contest, such as solidarity, mutual understanding and the aspiration for peace”.

VRT also said that taking part in no way endorses what is happening in Gaza or elsewhere in the world.

“Over the past few months, and in conjunction with other public service broadcasters such as the NPO in the Netherlands, VRT has seriously questioned the organisers about the future of the Eurovision Song Contest,” VRT said.

“VRT has observed that, whil" taking its members’ concerns very seriously, the EBU is now placing great importance on the future of the Eurovision Song Contest.

"The Flemish broadcaster wishes to continue to be part of this endeavour. That’s why its participation is not an end in itself, but a way of committing, alongside other public broadcasters, to shaping a Eurovision Song Contest which, prioritising credibility and genuine solidarity, is resolutely forward-looking.”

The 2026 edition was boycotted by the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Spain and Slovenia, which opposed Israel’s participation. The Netherlands recently reversed its decision to boycott the 2027 edition and will participate.

“The Eurovision Song Contest takes place in a world faced with wars, geopolitical tensions and societal polarisation. That’s why VRT fully understands the sometimes widely divergent opinions and emotions regarding our participation in the Eurovision Song Contest,” VRT’s director-general Frederik Delaplace said.

“Participation in no way endorses what is happening in Gaza or the rest of the world. We note, however, that today the EBU is no longer shying away from facing up to these extremely difficult societal and geopolitical issues.”

The 2027 edition will take place on 15 May in Burgas in Bulgaria. This is the first time the Balkan country has hosted the contest, following this year’s victory by the Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova (pictured), known as Dara, at the last contest held in Vienna.

So far Ireland has already announced it will boycott due to Israel’s participation.

The 2026 contest was watched by 131 million viewers, 35 million fewer than the previous year as fans also boycotted the programme over Israel’s participation.