Iceland Boycotts Eurovision After EBU Greenlights Israel Despite Its Conduct in Gaza War

Iceland's public broadcaster RÚV announced it would withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

“Iceland joins four other nations in a boycott, after the organiser declined to hold a vote over Israel’s involvement”

Al Jazeera

RÚV becomes the fifth country to boycott after the European Broadcasting Union cleared Israel's broadcaster KAN to participate despite the Gaza war.

Al Jazeera

RÚV cited sustained public debate, opposition from artists and stakeholders, and the view that participation could no longer "unite" viewers.

The EBU declined to expel Israel and said it had discussed KAN's participation at meetings in London and Geneva.

The EBU's decision came after a secret ballot in which a large majority of members backed new safeguards and rejected holding an exclusion vote.

The union said it had tightened rules on campaigning and promotion to reinforce neutrality.

CBC

Broadcasters such as the BBC and Germany supported the move as enforcing EBU rules and promoting inclusivity.

RÚV said its withdrawal was driven by domestic public debate and artistic opposition rather than a technical dispute over EBU rules.

“ByPERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published:17:29 GMT, 10 December 2025|Updated:17:31 GMT, 10 December 2025 609 Viewcomments Iceland has announced it is boycotting this year'sEurovisionsong contest over Israel's participation”

dailymail.co.uk

It said participation would bring 'neither joy nor peace' and that the decision to allow KAN made participation impossible.

Multiple outlets echoed that language when reporting RÚV's statements and describing internal discord.

The withdrawals highlight a split across European broadcasters.

Five public broadcasters, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland, have announced boycotts, and Spain's RTVE said it would not broadcast the contest.

Deadline

Other countries, like Poland, confirmed they will participate.

The situation underscores a contested balance between cultural programming and political protest.

Looking ahead to Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, outlets note the EBU's tightened rules on campaigning and voting aim to keep the contest non-political.

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France 24

Coverage diverges on whether those measures will restore trust.

France 24

Some sources and broadcasters argue the rules enforce neutrality.

Others say the refusal to exclude Israel amid the Gaza war makes participation unconscionable for affected nations and their publics.