Iceland Becomes Fifth Country To Boycott Eurovision 2026. Iceland announced it would boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, joining Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands after Israel’s participation was confirmed. RÚV director-general Stefan Eiriksson said there was “no peace or joy” surrounding the contest, making participation impossible under current circumstances. RÚV stated Israel’s inclusion had created “disunity” within the European Broadcasting Union and among the public, prompting its board to vote for withdrawal. The decision came just hours before the deadline for countries to confirm participation in what was supposed to be Eurovision’s 70th anniversary edition. Tensions have risen amid the Gaza war and concerns over voting integrity, including accusations that Israel tried to influence last year’s public vote. Although the EBU approved new measures to strengthen voting rules, Iceland said doubts remained about whether these adjustments would be sufficient. KAN chief executive Golan Yochpaz denounced efforts to exclude Israel as a “cultural boycott,” warning of broader consequences for the contest’s future. While Israel confirmed participation and Poland opted to stay in, Iceland—twice a Eurovision runner-up—became the final country to withdraw for 2026.