The fifth country to boycott Eurovision in protest against the acceptance of Israel's participation
Eurovision 2026. Photo credit: Isabelle Ouvrard / imago stock&people / Profimedia
Iceland will not participate in the Eurovision 2026 contest, public broadcaster RUV announced on Wednesday, after the organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), approved Israel's participation last week.
The EBU's decision to allow Israel to participate in the next Eurovision contest, which will take place in Vienna in May, has already led Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to withdraw in protest, citing Israel's behavior in the Gaza war, News.ro reports citing the Reuters news agency.
“It is clear from the public debate in this country and from the reaction to the EBU's decision last week that RUV's participation will not be greeted with joy or peace,” said the general manager of the television station, Stefan Eiriksson.
Iceland was among the countries that last week requested a vote on Israel's participation. But the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided not to hold a vote on Israel's participation, saying it had instead adopted new rules designed to discourage governments from influencing the contest.
Iceland has never won the music contest, but came second in 1999 and 2009.
The Eurovision contest dates back to 1956 and has approximately 160 million viewers, according to the EBU.
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