Iceland has confirmed its intention to participate in Eurovision 2026, which will be held in Vienna. However, its participation remains conditional. The national broadcaster RÚV has clarified that the final decision depends on whether the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) will allow Israel to compete.
The Chairman of RÚV’s Board, Stefán Jón Hafstein, stated that Iceland, like several other countries, has requested Israel’s exclusion from the contest. However, he also stressed that some countries strongly support Israel’s presence:
“There are countries that demand Israel remain in Eurovision. Among them is Germany,” he noted.
With this statement, the representative of the Icelandic public broadcaster highlighted the deep divisions within the EBU, while also confirming the reported threat from German public television to withdraw from the contest should Israel be expelled. The debate over Israel’s participation remains unresolved, as the final decision has been postponed until the end of the year, once the internal consultation process among broadcasters is completed.
Despite the uncertainty, Iceland is moving forward with preparations for its national selection, Söngvakeppnin 2026, through which the country’s entry for Vienna will be chosen. This year carries special significance, as it marks 40 years since Iceland’s debut in Eurovision with the iconic “Gleðibankinn.”
The controversy surrounding Israel’s participation is not limited to Iceland. Several European countries are calling for its exclusion, while others – as Hafstein pointed out, citing Germany as an example – consider Israel’s presence essential. Iceland’s final position will depend entirely on the outcome of this consultation process.
It should be noted that Germany is the most populous country competing in Eurovision, contributes the highest participation fee, and is one of the contest’s BIG 5 members.
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Source: Visir