Iceland Joins Boycott of Eurovision 2026 Amid Growing Tensions

Thu Dec 11 2025 08:57:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Iceland becomes the fifth country to announce its boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026, joining Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands in protest against Israel's participation.

Following the confirmation of Israel's participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, Iceland has officially announced its withdrawal from the event. Citing disunity and concerns regarding the impact of Israel's role, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service expressed that the atmosphere surrounding the competition no longer aligned with celebratory values. This move highlights increasing tensions related to Israel's presence in the context of recent geopolitical events.

Iceland has joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands in saying it will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.

All five countries have withdrawn after Israel's participation in the competition was officially confirmed last week. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) has decided not to participate in the Eurovision song contest in Vienna, Austria, next year, a statement said after an RÚV board meeting on Wednesday.

Participation of Israeli national broadcaster, KAN, in the contest has created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public. The board meeting came hours before the deadline for countries to confirm whether they will join what's supposed to be a celebratory 70th anniversary edition of the song contest next May. Iceland was believed to be the last remaining country to announce its decision.

Israel's presence at Eurovision has been an increasing source of tension, because of the war in Gaza and concerns about the voting and campaigning processes, including accusations that Israel's government tried to influence the public vote at this year's event. A new raft of measures designed to protect the integrity of the vote was approved during an EBU summit last week, after which most countries confirmed they would travel to Vienna for the 2026 contest.

Despite these measures, RÚV emphasized that doubts remained about whether the adjustments would be fully satisfactory. It stated, Public opinion in Iceland means the country's participation at Eurovision 2026 would be neither a source of joy nor peace, thus concluding its decision to withdraw. Last week, Spain, which also asked for a vote on Israel's participation, decided on a similar withdrawal.

This growing boycott reflects significant international sentiments and controversies surrounding the contest's event, as stakeholders aim to prioritize values over competitive participation.