Iceland has decided not to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, as confirmed by the country’s public broadcaster, RUV, on Wednesday. This decision follows the recent approval of Israel’s involvement in the contest by the European Broadcasting Union. The acceptance of Israel’s entry has led to Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia withdrawing from the competition in protest, expressing concerns over Israel’s actions during its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. In contrast, Germany and host nation Austria have expressed support for Israel’s participation.
Stefan Eiriksson, the director general of RUV, stated that the public discourse and reaction in Iceland indicate a lack of enthusiasm and harmony surrounding the decision not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Iceland had been one of the countries that had requested a vote on Israel’s participation, but the European Broadcasting Union opted not to hold a vote on the matter. Instead, the EBU introduced new regulations to prevent governments from exerting influence on the contest, following allegations of vote manipulation by Israel in previous editions.
Although Iceland has not secured a victory in the Eurovision Song Contest, the country achieved second place in both 1999 and 2009. The competition, which has been running since 1956, attracts approximately 160 million viewers worldwide, according to the EBU.