Iceland Joins Eurovision Boycott as Fifth Country
Iceland has officially joined the boycott against the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, becoming the fifth country to do so. The nation follows Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands in withdrawing from the event.
Iceland’s Withdrawal from Eurovision 2026
The decision stems from the confirmation of Israel’s participation in next year’s contest. Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV commented on the lack of “peace or joy” associated with the contest under current circumstances.
Stefan Eiriksson, director-general of RÚV, emphasized that the ongoing situation has influenced their choice to step back from the contest. The board of RÚV convened on a Wednesday to finalize their decision just hours before the participation deadline.
Concerns Regarding Israel’s Participation
RÚV highlighted that Israel’s involvement has resulted in significant disunity, both within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and among the general public. The broadcaster had previously proposed that Israel should be banned from participating.
- Iceland was one of seven countries to request a vote on Israel’s participation at the EBU general meeting.
- This request was denied, leading to the controversial decision to tie Israel’s future participation to a new voting integrity framework.
Background on Eurovision and Israeli Involvement
This year’s Eurovision Song Contest was held in Vienna, where Israel’s Yuval Raphael earned the top spot in popular voting and finished second overall. Israel has been part of the Eurovision since 1973, winning the competition four times, with the most recent victory in 2018.
Concerns over the integrity of the voting process have emerged due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and accusations of attempted influence by the Israeli government. Following a recent EBU summit, new measures were introduced to protect the voting integrity, though RÚV expressed doubts about their adequacy.
Other Countries’ Participation
While five countries have chosen to boycot the contest, Poland has confirmed that it will participate in Eurovision 2026. The Polish broadcaster, TVP, acknowledged the challenges facing the competition but expressed hope that Eurovision can be a platform centered around music.
Looking Ahead
The 70th anniversary edition of Eurovision is slated for May 2026 in Vienna. Eurovision director Martin Green expressed respect for the decisions made by various broadcasters and hopes for their return in the future.
