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Iceland will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, the country's public broadcaster RUV said on Wednesday, after the European Broadcasting Union cleared Israel's entry last week.
The decision to allow Israel to take part in the next Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in Vienna in May, prompted Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to withdraw from the protest, citing Israel's performance in the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, Germany and host country Austria support Israel's participation.
“It is clear from the public debate in this country and the reaction to last week's EBU decision that there will be neither joy nor peace regarding RUV's participation,” the broadcaster's chief executive Stefan Eiriksson said.
Public broadcasters from at least four countries have pulled out of next year's Eurovision Song Contest after organizers decided to allow Israel to compete. Eurovision expert Karen Fricker discusses the potential consequences of not participating.
Iceland was among the countries that last week requested a vote on Israel's participation. But the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided not to call a vote on Israel's participation, saying it had instead adopted new rules aimed at stopping governments from influencing the competition following accusations that Israel manipulated the vote in favor of its candidate.
Iceland has never won the song contest, but came second in 1999 and 2009. According to the EBU, the Eurovision Song Contest has been held since 1956 and attracts approximately 160 million viewers.
