COPENHAGEN: Iceland won’t participate within the 2026 Eurovision Music Contest, the nation’s public broadcaster RUV stated on Wednesday (Dec 10), after organiser the European Broadcasting Union last week cleared Israel’s participation.
The choice to permit Israel to participate within the subsequent Eurovision, which can be held in Vienna in Could, earlier prompted Spain, the Netherlands, Eire, and Slovenia to withdraw in protest, citing Israel’s conduct within the Gaza warfare.
“It’s clear from the general public debate on this nation and the response to the EBU’s choice final week that there can be neither pleasure nor peace concerning RUV’s participation,” the broadcaster’s Director Common Stefan Eiriksson stated in a press release.
Iceland was among the many international locations that had requested a vote final week on Israel’s participation. However the European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, determined to not name a vote on Israel’s participation, saying it had as an alternative handed new guidelines aimed toward discouraging governments from influencing the competition.
Iceland has by no means received the music contest however got here second in 1999 and 2009. The Eurovision Music Contest dates again to 1956 and reaches round 160 million viewers, in response to the EBU.
