• Iceland announces a boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
• The decision follows Israel's confirmed participation, leading to multiple country withdrawals.
• Public sentiment in Iceland strongly opposes the decision by the European Broadcasting Union to allow Israel's involvement.
• Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands have also withdrawn from the contest.
• The boycott reflects concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Iceland has officially decided not to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, joining other countries like Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands in this protest. The move comes after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) cleared Israel's participation, which has been a point of contention due to ongoing concerns related to the Gaza war, as stated by Icelandic broadcaster RÚV.

The Director General of RÚV, Stefan Eiriksson, expressed that "neither joy nor peace will prevail regarding RUV's participation," reflecting the significant public opposition to Israel's involvement in the Eurovision contest. Iceland had previously requested a vote on this issue but the EBU opted not to call for one, instead implementing new rules to prevent governmental influence during the contest, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The decision has also led to public demonstrations in Iceland, underscoring the societal divide over the issue. RÚV stated that the essence of Eurovision, which is meant to unite participants, has been undermined by current events. Iceland, despite never winning the contest, has a historical presence and significant viewership engagement surrounding Eurovision, as confirmed by AA.