Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Vienna / ESC
Iceland has become the fifth country to boycott Eurovision 2026 in protest at Israel’s participation.
The Song Contest is due to celebrate its 70th anniversary next May in Vienna, Austria but a shadow has been cast over the event due to Israel competing.
Multiple countries had indicated that they would be uncomfortable taking part due to the deadly war in Gaza – and now Iceland has joined Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia in pulling out.
A statement from Iceland’s broadcaster RUV said: “The participation of the Israeli national broadcaster, KAN, in the contest has recently caused discord, both among the member stations of the European Broadcasting Union, EBU, and among the public.
“KAN’s participation was discussed in detail at EBU meetings earlier this year, first in London this summer and in Geneva last week. At the meeting in Geneva, a large majority of EBU member stations agreed that various changes that have been made to the rules and the implementation of the contest were satisfactory, and therefore there was no vote on KAN’s participation in the contest.”
It continued: “It is clear from the public debate in this country and the reaction to the EBU’s decision made last week that there will be neither joy nor peace regarding RÚV’s participation in Eurovision. It is therefore RÚV’s decision to inform the EBU today that RÚV will not participate in Eurovision next year.
“The Song Contest and Eurovision have always had the goal of uniting the Icelandic people, but it is now clear that that goal will not be achieved and this decision is made on those programmatic grounds.”
Iceland’s decision takes the number of countries provisionally planning to participate in 2026 to 34, down from this year’s 37.
