Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision

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

All five countries withdrew after Israel’s participation in the competition was officially confirmed last week.

Stefan Eiriksson, managing director of Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV, said: “As things stand, there is neither peace nor happiness regarding this competition. On that basis, first and foremost, we are stepping back as things stand.”

RÚV said Israel’s participation “created divisions among both European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members and the general public.”

The broadcaster’s board of directors adopted the decision at a meeting on Wednesday, hours before a deadline for countries to confirm whether they will attend the song contest’s 70th anniversary celebrations next May.

Iceland was believed to be the last country to announce its decision.

Eurovision director Martin Green said: “We respect the decision of all broadcasters who have chosen not to take part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest and hope to welcome them back soon.”

Israel’s presence at Eurovision has become a growing source of tension due to concerns about the voting and campaign processes, including the war in Gaza and accusations that the Israeli government is trying to influence the public vote at this year’s event.

A new set of measures to protect the integrity of the vote was approved at the EBU summit last week, after which most countries confirmed they would travel to Vienna for the 2026 contest.

The Icelandic broadcasting board had previously approved a proposal from the EBU to ban Israel from Eurovision 2026.

Iceland was reportedly among the seven countries that requested a vote on Israel’s participation at the EBU general meeting.

This request was rejected, and Israel’s future participation was instead effectively tied to a vote on new voting and campaign rules.

The Icelandic broadcaster said the new measures addressed most of its concerns but “believes there are still doubts about whether the agreed arrangements will be fully satisfactory.”

“RÚV has repeatedly expressed concerns that various Icelandic stakeholders, such as artists’ associations and the general public, are against participating in the competition.

“Also RÚV from EBU [Israeli public broadcaster] KAN left the competition in accordance with its precedents.

“This is a complex issue that has already damaged the reputation of the competition and the EBU, highlighting the need for a resolution for all parties involved.”

According to the minutes of Thursday’s meeting obtained by KAN, the broadcaster’s general manager, Golan Yochpaz, criticized those who tried to throw Israel out.

“The attempt to exclude KAN from the competition can only be understood as a cultural boycott,” he said. “A boycott with Israel may begin today, but no one knows where it will end or who it will harm.

“Is this really what we want to be remembered for on the 70th anniversary of this competition?”

Israel has been participating in Eurovision since 1973, as public broadcaster KAN is a member of the EBU, which organizes the contest.

Israel has won four times, most recently in 2018, and finished second in the 2025 competition.

Iceland has never won but finished second in 1999 and 2009.