After Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia, it is Iceland’s turn to announce that it will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, the country’s public broadcaster, RUV, reported this Wednesday, December 10, after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizer of the event, authorized Israel’s participation last week.
“It is clear from the public debate in this country and the reaction to the EBU decision last week that there will be no joy or peace over the RUV’s participation”said the station’s general director, Stefan Eiriksson, in a statement.
Iceland was among the countries that had requested a vote last week on Israel’s participation. However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided not to carry out the vote, claiming to have approved new rules aimed at discouraging government influence in the contest.
Also this Wednesday, a group of musicians who will participate in the Festival RTP da Canção announced that they will not represent Portugal at Eurovision if they win the national festival.