After months of speculation, threats, and calls to ban Israel from the contest, Iceland confirms their participation in Eurovision 2026

Iceland has officially confirmed its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. On the website of the national broadcaster RÚV, a banner announced the opening of song submissions for the Söngvakeppnin, which will determine Iceland’s representative to the international stage. The announcement brings an end to much speculation regarding the country’s future in the competition, officially positioning Iceland as part of the event set for next year.

Iceland is the 24th country to express interest in participating in Eurovision 2026, following Albania, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the host country, Austria.

As previously reported on EuroMix, amidst the “Iron Swords” war, the Chairman of the Board of the Icelandic national broadcaster, Stefán Jón Hafstein, called for Israel to be barred from participating in Eurovision 2026. He even suggested allowing only independent Israeli artists under a neutral flag—meaning they could not display the Israeli flag at the contest—and urged them to publicly support the fundamental values of Eurovision, including staunch support for human rights globally. “This approach aims to uphold the integrity and values of the competition.” The appeal came ahead of a forthcoming European Broadcasting Union summit focused on the participation of Israel, placing Israel at the center of another international controversy surrounding Europe’s most popular song contest. Iceland is among several nations, such as Slovenia and Spain, that have strongly called for Israel’s removal from the competition.

Political Debate Over Israel’s Participation

The Icelandic announcement is not isolated from a wider context. In recent months, Iceland’s national broadcaster leadership has made strong calls to oust Israel from Eurovision and the EBU. Senior executives even declared their support for a formal initiative to expel Israel, should it come to a vote. On the other hand, voices supporting Israel recall the contest’s core principles—a celebration of music and cross-cultural exchange, not a political battleground. Criticism of Israel in Iceland highlights rising tension between the values of artistic freedom and the overlap of political concerns.

Culture Versus Politics in Iceland

The tension surrounding Israel’s participation is not new. In Eurovision 2019, hosted in Tel Aviv, boycotts were called for, yet the event enjoyed some of the highest viewership in its history. Iceland itself notably saw a precedent in 2019, when Hatari (Hebrew: האטארי), raised Palestinian flags during the live broadcast—an incident that sparked controversy. For long-time Eurovision fans, including the Israeli EuroMix community, the issue highlights the conflict between the spirit of the contest and attempts at politicization. “In conversations with fans, many said Israeli participation sharply expresses the contest’s unifying message,” as discussed in interviews.

Analysis: Politics Versus Music—Where Is Eurovision Heading?

Eurovision has always been much more than a song contest—it is a stage for values, identity, and sometimes politics. The demand to boycott Israel, or set conditions on Israeli artists, places the EBU in a dilemma: should it continue to safeguard the contest as an island of shared culture, or let divisive voices dictate participation? As seen before, memorable Israeli performances, such as Dana International in 1998, became symbols of openness and equality. Any decision will affect not only Israel but also the overall character of the competition. “Such dilemmas reflect broader trends in Europe’s debate on culture and inclusion,” noted a EuroMix commentator.

What Does the Future Hold? Iceland’s decision to remain in the contest could influence other countries considering similar moves. If a boycott initiative rises against Israel, the EBU will face a precedent-setting decision that may reshape the contest’s boundaries. Meanwhile, the opening of song submissions rekindles excitement among fans—could Iceland finally break its streak of non-victories and climb to the Eurovision summit?

Iceland in Eurovision 2025

“Róa” is the name of the song performed by the duo Væb, who represented Iceland at Eurovision 2025. Iceland advanced to the grand final after ranking sixth in the first semi-final with 97 points. In the grand final, Iceland finished in 25th place with 33 points, with the public voting placing them 17th, while the juries ranked them last with 0 points.

This year, Iceland participated in the grand final after two years of failing to qualify. In 2023, Diljá failed to advance to the final with her song “Power”. In 2024, Hera Björk placed last in the first semi-final with the song “Scared Of Heights”.

Eurovision 2026: This will be Iceland’s 38th participation in Eurovision. Iceland joined the competition in 1986 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 1999 and Eurovision 2009 after finishing second twice.