Iceland joins boycott of Eurovision 2026 in protest at Israel’s involvement

Iceland's public broadcaster RUV announced it will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, joining Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and the Netherlands in protest of Israel's participation. The boycott follows the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) decision to allow Israel to participate without holding a vote on the matter, despite calls for exclusion due to Israel's actions in Gaza. RUV cited public sentiment and a lack of support for participation given the EBU's decision. The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in Vienna in May. The boycotting countries object to Israel's involvement, while Germany has stated it would boycott if Israel were excluded.

Iceland has decided to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, joining Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. The decision stems from the confirmed participation of Israel's national broadcaster, KAN, which has caused disunity within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and among the public. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) stated that while new measures were approved to protect the integrity of the vote, doubts remain about their effectiveness. RÚV also cited concerns from Icelandic stakeholders, including artist associations and the general public, who opposed participation. The broadcaster had requested KAN's exclusion, citing precedents, but ultimately decided that participation would not be a source of "joy nor peace."