Another country is joining those boycotting the 2026 Eurovision contest, which will take place in Vienna. The decision follows Israel’s announcement last week of its participation in the competition.
It is about Iceland, and Stefan Eiriksson, director general of the RUV station, said that: “There is no peace or joy about this contest as it stands. On that basis, first of all, we withdraw as long as the situation remains as it is,” writes the BBC.
In addition to Iceland, they also decided to boycott Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia.
RÚV stated that Israel’s participation of “created division both among the members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and among the general public”.
The broadcaster’s board of directors approved the decision at a meeting on Wednesday, just hours before the deadline for countries to confirm whether they will join the 70th anniversary edition of the contest.
Eurovision director Martin Green said he respects “the decision of all broadcasters who chose not to participate in next year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest”, and hopes they will return in the future.
The board of the Icelandic broadcaster had previously approved a recommendation to ask the EBU to exclude Israel from Eurovision 2026.
Iceland was reportedly among the seven countries that later requested a vote at the EBU General Assembly on Israel’s participation. This request was rejected, and Israel’s future participation was effectively tied to a vote on new voting and campaign rules.
The Icelandic broadcaster said that while the new measures addressed many of its concerns, “considers that there are still doubts as to whether the adjustments agreed upon would be fully satisfactory.”
According to a transcript of Thursday’s meeting provided by KAN, the broadcaster’s executive director, Golan Yochpaz, criticized those trying to get Israel excluded.
“The attempt to eliminate KAN from the contest can only be understood like a cultural boycott,” he said.
“A boycott may begin today with Israel, but no one knows where it will end or who else it might affect. Is this what we really want this competition to be remembered for on its 70th anniversary?”
Israel has participated in Eurovision since 1973, as KAN, its public broadcaster, is a member of the EBU, which organizes the competition. Israel has won four times, most recently in 2018, and finished second in the 2025 contest.
Iceland have never won, but were runners-up in 1999 and 2009.
