Iceland has joined Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands in saying it will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
All five countries have withdrawn after Israel's participation in the competition was officially confirmed last week.
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) has decided not to participate in the Eurovision song contest in Vienna, Austria, next year, a statement said after an RÚV board meeting on Wednesday.
Participation of Israeli national broadcaster, KAN, in the contest has created disunity among both members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the general public.
The board meeting came hours before the deadline for countries to confirm whether they will join what's supposed to be a celebratory 70th anniversary edition of the song contest next May.
Iceland was believed to be the last remaining country to announce its decision.
Israel's presence at Eurovision has been an increasing source of tension, especially in light of recent conflicts and concerns regarding voting integrity and campaign influence allegations.
While the EBU approved new measures aimed at ensuring voting integrity, RÚV indicated that it still had unresolved concerns regarding KAN's participation.
Public sentiment and feedback from various Icelandic stakeholders suggested that participation in the contest would not foster joy or peace, leading them to officially inform the EBU of their withdrawal.
This decision follows similar actions from other European countries, marking a significant moment in the ongoing discussions about culture and politics within major international events like Eurovision.
