Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision

15 minutes agoMark SavageMusic correspondentGetty ImagesThe pop band VÆB represented Iceland at the 2025 Eurovision Song ContestIceland has joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in saying it will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.All five countries have withdrawn after Israel's participation in the competition was officially confirmed last week."The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) has decided not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, next year," a statement said after an RÚV board meeting on Wednesday."Participation of Israeli national broadcaster, KAN, in the contest has created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public."The board meeting came hours before the deadline for countries to confirm whether they will join what's supposed to be a celebratory 70th anniversary edition of the song contest next May.Iceland was believed to be the last remaining country to announce its decision.ReutersThe next contest is due to be held in Vienna in May 2026 after Austrian singer JJ triumphed at this year's eventIsrael's presence at Eurovision has been an increasing source of tension, because of the war in Gaza and concerns about the voting and campaigning processes, including accusations that Israel's government tried to influence the public vote at this year's event.A new raft of measures designed to protect the integrity of the vote was approved at an EBU summit last week, after which most countries confirmed they would travel to Vienna for the 2026 contest.The Icelandic broadcaster said that while the new measures address many of its concerns, it "believes that there are still doubts whether the agreed adjustments would be fully satisfactory"."RÚV has repeadly raised concerns that various Icelandic stakeholders, such as artist associations and the general public, were opposed to participation in the contest."Furthermore, RÚV had requested the EBU to exclude KAN from the contest in accordance to precedents."It is a complex matter which has already damaged the contest's reputation and EBU, emphasizing the necessity of a solution for all concerned parties."Public opinion in Iceland and the reaction to last week's EBU summit means the country's participation at Eurovision 2026 would "neither be a source of joy nor peace", it said."Therefore, RÚV has come to the conclusion to inform EBU today that RÚV will not participate in the Eurovision contest next year."Last week, Spain said it had decided to withdraw after it asked for a vote on Israel's participation, which was not approved. Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands also pulled out after the summit.According to a transcript of Thursday's meeting supplied by KAN, the broadcaster's chief executive Golan Yochpaz criticised those trying to get Israel thrown out."The attempt to remove KAN from the contest can only be understood as a cultural boycott," he said. "A boycott may begin today with Israel, but no one knows where it will end or who else it may harm."Is this what we truly want this contest to be remembered for on its 70th anniversary?"Israel has taken part in Eurovision since 1973 because KAN, its public broadcaster, is a member of the EBU, which organises the competition.Israel has won four times, most recently in 2018, and came second in the 2025 contest.