Iceland has joined Spain, Eire, Slovenia and the Netherlands in saying it can boycott the 2026 Eurovision Music Contest.
All 5 nations have withdrawn after Israel’s participation within the competitors was formally confirmed final week.
“Participation of Israeli nationwide broadcaster, Kan, within the contest has created disunity amongst each members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and most people,” Icelandic broadcaster RÚV stated in a press release.
Iceland had beforehand indicated it meant to skip the 2026 contest, however wished to attend till the difficulty could possibly be mentioned by its board of administrators on Wednesday.
That assembly got here hours earlier than the deadline for nations to verify whether or not they are going to be a part of what’s alleged to be a celebratory seventieth anniversary version of the music contest in Austria subsequent Could.
Israel has taken half in Eurovision since 1973 as a result of Kan, its public broadcaster, is a member of the European Broadcasting Union – which organises the competitors.
Israel has received 4 instances, most not too long ago in 2018, and got here second within the 2025 contest.
Nevertheless, its presence has been an rising supply of pressure, due to the battle in Gaza and issues over the voting and campaigning processes, together with accusations that Israel’s authorities tried to affect the general public vote at this 12 months’s occasion.
A brand new raft of measures to guard the integrity of the vote was accredited at an EBU summit final week, after which most nations confirmed they might journey to Vienna for the 2026 contest.
Nevertheless, Spain stated it had determined to withdraw after it requested for a vote on Israel’s participation, which was not accredited. Eire, Slovenia and the Netherlands additionally pulled out after that summit.
In keeping with a transcript of Thursday’s assembly provided by Kan, the broadcaster’s chief govt Golan Yochpaz criticised these making an attempt to get Israel thrown out.
“The try to take away Kan from the competition can solely be understood as a cultural boycott,” he stated. “A boycott could start immediately with Israel, however nobody is aware of the place it can finish or who else it could hurt.
“Is that this what we actually need this contest to be remembered for on its seventieth anniversary?”