Iceland has decided not to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, as announced by the country’s public broadcaster, RUV, on Wednesday. This decision follows the recent approval of Israel’s participation by the European Broadcasting Union, leading Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia to withdraw in protest, citing concerns over Israel’s actions in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. In contrast, Germany and host nation Austria have expressed support for Israel’s involvement in the competition.
RUV’s director general, Stefan Eiriksson, stated in a release that the decision not to participate was influenced by the lack of enthusiasm and harmony within the country regarding the EBU’s recent ruling. Iceland was one of the nations that had requested a vote on Israel’s participation, but the EBU opted not to hold a vote and instead implemented new regulations to prevent government interference in the contest following allegations of manipulation by Israel in previous editions.
Although Iceland has never secured a victory in the Eurovision Song Contest, the country achieved second place in 1999 and 2009. The competition, which has been running since 1956, attracts approximately 160 million viewers worldwide, according to the EBU.
