Iceland has joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands in saying it will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
All five countries have withdrawn after Israel's participation in the competition was officially confirmed last week.
Stefan Eiriksson, director-general of Icelandic national broadcaster RÚV, stated, 'There is no peace or joy connected to this contest as things stand now. On that basis, first and foremost, we are stepping back while the situation is as it is.'
RÚV indicated that Israel's participation had 'created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public.'
The broadcaster's board agreed on this decision just hours before the deadline for countries to announce their participation in next year's edition, which celebrates the 70th anniversary of Eurovision.
Eurovision director Martin Green commented, 'We respect the decision of all broadcasters who have chosen not to participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest and hope to welcome them back soon.'
Israel's presence at Eurovision has been contentious due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and allegations of undue influence over the voting and campaigning processes. Recently, new measures have been approved by the EBU to protect the integrity of the vote amid these concerns.
Iceland's broadcaster noted that while the new measures addressed many issues, there remains uncertainty about whether they would be fully satisfactory amidst continued opposition to participation from various Icelandic stakeholders.
As the situation unfolds, Poland has confirmed its participation in next year's contest, expressing hope that Eurovision can still serve as a platform focused on music amid the tensions.
