Iceland to boycott 2026 Eurovision in protest of go-ahead for Israel

Iceland to boycott 2026 Eurovision in protest of go-ahead for Israel | Global Banking & Finance Review | GBAF

Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

Global Banking and Finance Review is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

Home > Finance > Iceland to boycott 2026 Eurovision in protest of go-ahead for Israel

Finance

Iceland to boycott 2026 Eurovision in protest of go-ahead for Israel

Published by Global Banking and Finance Review

Posted on December 10, 2025

Featured image for article about Finance

Tags:sustainability financial community international organizations

COPENHAGEN, ‌Dec 10 (Reuters) - Iceland will not take part in ‍the ‌2026 Eurovision Song Contest, the country's public broadcaster RUV ⁠said on Wednesday, after ‌organiser the European Broadcasting Union last week cleared Israel's participation.

The decision to allow Israel to take part in the ⁠next Eurovision, which will be held in Vienna in May, earlier prompted Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia ‌to withdraw in protest, ⁠citing Israel's conduct in the Gaza war.

"It is clear from the public debate in this country and the reaction to the EBU's decision last week that there will be neither joy nor peace regarding RUV's participation," the broadcaster's Director General Stefan Eiriksson said ‍in a statement.

Iceland was among the countries that had requested a vote last week on Israel's participation. But the European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, decided not to call a vote on Israel's participation, saying it had instead passed ⁠new rules aimed at discouraging governments from influencing the contest.

Iceland has never won the song contest but came second in 1999 and 2009. The Eurovision Song Contest dates back to 1956 and reaches around 160 million viewers, ‌according to the EBU.

(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen and Essi Lehto in Helsinki, editing by Terje Solsvik)

Frequently Asked Questions about Iceland to boycott 2026 Eurovision in protest of go-ahead for Israel

1What is the Eurovision Song Contest?

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition held among the member countries of the European Broadcasting Union, featuring original songs performed by artists representing their countries.

2What is the European Broadcasting Union?

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is an alliance of public service media organizations, which organizes events like the Eurovision Song Contest and promotes cooperation among its members.

3What is a boycott?

A boycott is a form of protest in which individuals or groups refuse to engage with or support an organization, country, or event to express disapproval or to bring about change.