Iceland joins Eurovision boycott in protest over Israel

Iceland ‍will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, the ​country's public broadcaster RUV says, after organiser the ⁠European Broadcasting Union last week cleared Israel's participation.

The decision to allow Israel to take part in the next Eurovision, which will be held in Vienna in May, earlier prompted ‌Spain, the Netherlands, ​Ireland and Slovenia to withdraw in protest, citing ‍Israel's conduct in the Gaza Strip war.

"It is clear from the public debate in this country and the reaction to the EBU's decision last week that there will be neither joy ​nor peace regarding RUV's participation," ‌the broadcaster's director general Stefan Eiriksson said in a statement.

Stefán Eiríksson, director general of #RÚV, has spoken about the decision that #Iceland will not compete in #Eurovision next year. pic.twitter.com/wdazHVv1hz— RÚV English (@RuvEnglish) December 10, 2025

Iceland was among the ​countries that had requested a vote last week on ‍Israel's participation.

But the European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, decided not to call a vote on Israel's participation, ​saying ​it had instead ​passed new rules aimed at discouraging ​governments from influencing the contest.

Iceland has never won the song contest but came second in 1999 and 2009.

The Eurovision Song Contest dates back to 1956 and reaches about 160 million viewers, according to the EBU.