Iceland withdraws from Eurovision 2026 citing Israel’s inclusion as divisive

Iceland’s national broadcaster, RÚV, has announced that the country will withdraw from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s confirmed participation. The decision follows similar withdrawals from the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia. RÚV stated that the participation of Israel’s broadcaster KAN has created division among members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the broader public. The announcement comes amid ongoing criticism of Israel’s inclusion in the competition during its military actions in Gaza and allegations of voting manipulation favoring Israel in previous years. The EBU recently held a vote to approve new rules intended to strengthen fairness and prevent voting issues, though some countries insisted that further measures were necessary and called for another vote regarding Israel’s participation. RÚV emphasized that many Icelandic artists and public figures opposed continued involvement and noted the reputational harm Eurovision has suffered due to the controversy. While Austria, the 2026 host, and other countries such as Poland and Belgium confirmed their participation, the withdrawals are among the largest collective political protests in Eurovision’s recent history. The EBU’s director confirmed that around 35 broadcasters are still expected to compete in Vienna next May, despite the divisions overshadowing what is meant to be a unifying music event.