Like several other countries, Iceland also wants to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria because of Israel’s possible participation. The board of the Icelandic broadcaster RÚV decided this at a meeting in Reykjavik.
The responsible broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands had previously announced an ESC boycott. Other countries are also considering such a move.
The countries were reacting to a decision made last week Majority decision of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)according to which all countries that wish can take part in the music competition. This means that nothing stands in the way of Israel taking part in the next ESC in Vienna.
Because of Israel’s actions in the Gaza war, some broadcasters had called for the country to be excluded from the competition, including RÚV. The broadcaster now said that, given the public debate in Iceland and the reactions to the EBU’s decision, it was clear that there would be neither joy nor peace if Iceland took part in the ESC. The broadcaster will therefore inform the EBU today that they will not be taking part in the next ESC.
The Eurovision Song Contest is actually very important in Iceland. The town of Húsavík has its own Eurovision museum, and the comedy film “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” with Hollywood stars like Will Ferrell is set in the small community in the remote north of the North Atlantic island.