Iceland Joins Eurovision Boycott

Iceland has joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands in announcing a boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, following the confirmation of Israel’s participation last week.

The Icelandic broadcaster, RÚV, stated that Israel’s inclusion in the competition has caused significant division among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the public.

Iceland initially signaled its intention to withdraw but waited for a board meeting on Wednesday to discuss the matter. This meeting occurred just before the deadline for countries to confirm their participation in the 70th-anniversary edition of the contest, set to be held in Austria next May.

Israel has been a consistent participant in Eurovision since 1973, due to its public broadcaster, Kan, being a member of the EBU. The nation boasts four wins, the latest in 2018, and secured second place in 2025.

However, the ongoing conflict in Gaza has brought increased scrutiny on Israel’s involvement, raising concerns about the fairness of voting and campaigning. Accusations have surfaced, alleging attempts by the Israeli government to manipulate the public vote in the recent contest.

Last week, the EBU approved new measures to safeguard the integrity of the voting process. Despite these assurances, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands decided to withdraw after a vote to possibly exclude Israel failed.

Golan Yochpaz, CEO of Kan, strongly criticized the attempts to exclude Israel in a statement released on Thursday. “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.”

Yochpaz questioned whether a boycott is the legacy desired for Eurovision’s 70th anniversary.

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