Iceland becomes fifth country to boycott Eurovision 2026
Vaeb representing Iceland at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Vaeb representing Iceland at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Iceland has become the latest country to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 over Israel’s inclusion in the competition.
On Wednesday (10 December), Iceland’s broadcaster, RÚV, announced it was joining Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands in boycotting the 2026 event, which is set to take place in Vienna in May.
“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,” a statement reads.
The BBC reports that RÚV had indicated it would withdraw from the 2026 contest but that the broadcaster’s board of directors had wanted to discuss the matter first.
The decision comes after a vote by European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members on Thursday 4 December regarding proposed new rules for the contest, which effectively meant Israel would be allowed to compete in next year’s contest.
Late last week, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands announced they were boycotting the event. This followed up on threats to pull out made by several countries ahead of the vote.
Since the war in Gaza started, a number of Eurovision entrants have voiced their concern over Israel’s inclusion. Meanwhile, there have been allegations that Israel had unfairly campaigned to boost votes for its 2024 entry, singer Yuval Raphael, after she topped the public vote.
The BBC, which broadcast Eurovision in the UK, was at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) meeting on Thursday (4 December) when Israel’s participation was voted on.
In a statement afterward a representative said, “We support the collective decision made by members of the EBU. This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive.”
And Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage in the world, and I am fully and actively committed to that.”
Dana International, the first publicly transgender winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, has slammed the “violent and insulting” decision by those boycotting 2026 contest.
She made history as the first trans woman to win Eurovision in 1998, representing Israel. She said that by abandoning Eurovision 2026, countries would be harming “the very idea of peace” as well as Israel and “the contest itself.”
Some former Eurovision stars including Bambie Thug, Nemo, and the UK’s Mae Muller have expressed their wish that Israel is excluded from Eurovision.
Eurovision 2026 will take place in Vienna next May.
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