Iceland Boycotts Eurovision Over Israel's Participation

Iceland will not compete in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. The country's public broadcaster, RÚV, announced the decision as a protest against Israel's inclusion in the event. In a statement, RÚV said, "It is clear that neither joy nor peace will prevail regarding the participation of RÚV in Eurovision." The broadcaster did not provide further details on the political reasoning behind the move. The decision follows months of controversy. Many pro-Palestinian activists had called for Israel to be banned from the 2024 contest due to its military actions in Gaza. Israel participated and finished in fifth place. Eurovision's organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), has consistently stated the contest is non-political. It maintains that all eligible public broadcasters, including Israel's, are invited to participate. Iceland's withdrawal marks a significant escalation in the ongoing debate. It is the first country to formally boycott a future contest over this issue. The 2026 contest will be held in Switzerland.