Czech Republic withdraws from Eurovision 2027 amid public broadcaster cuts
Czech public broadcaster Česká televize announced it will not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest due to budget cuts affecting its programming and production capabilities.
Česká televize revealed on Instagram that the Czech Republic will not compete in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, attributing the withdrawal to deep budgetary constraints that limit its ability to fund the necessary production and organizational work. The broadcaster also announced it will no longer broadcast the event within the country, urging viewers to follow the contest on its official YouTube channel where they can still vote in the "other world" category.
The cuts, which include a large reduction in staff and the removal of several TV series and news programs, have left the broadcaster without the resources required for participation. No timeline for a possible return was provided. The Czech Republic has participated in Eurovision fourteen times historically, with a brief hiatus in the early 2000s and a strong showing in 2018 when Mikolas Josef placed sixth.
Why it matters
The withdrawal highlights how public-broadcaster funding cuts can affect a country's cultural presence in major international events.
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