Public television RÚV announced this Wednesday 10 that Iceland will withdraw from the 70th edition of Eurovision after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) made the decision to allow Israel to participate.
The island country becomes the fifth capricious and joins the four others who announced their abandonment on the 4th, during the EBU General Assembly in Geneva: Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands.
It was at 3:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. Spanish time) when the RÚV board of directors met to make a final decision. The public broadcaster has come under internal political and social pressure to join the rebel countries.
Pressure for withdrawal included that of Iceland’s Media Minister, Logi Einarsson, the Icelandic Composers and Lyricists Association and pop icon Björk.
“Following the public debate and reactions to last week’s EBU decision, it is clear that there will be no joy or peace regarding RÚV’s participation in Eurovision. Therefore, we will not participate in Eurovision next year“, the channel said in a press release.
The predictions of departure from the Scandinavian country are thus coming true. It is the only Nordic country to have voted against Israel’s participation in the Assembly and the most bellicose with the Hebrew country in recent years.
two weeks ago, The RÚV board of directors recommended to the EBU that Israel not participate in Eurovision 2026 by 5 votes for and 4 against. After the General Assembly in Geneva, Radio and Television President Stefán Jón Hafstein described the vote as “disappointing”.
The Scandinavian country debuted in the competition in 1986, participating 37 times. She has been competing continuously since 2003. She is also the only Nordic state never to have won the festival.
Poland will be
It is about a decision opposite to that taken by Poland on December 10. The central European country’s public channel, TVP, has confirmed its participation in the 70th edition of the competition.
Head office of TVP, Telewizja Polska SA, in Warsaw, Poland.
Reuters
“We are aware of the tension surrounding the next edition. We understand the emotions and concerns. However, we believe that (Eurovision) still has the opportunity to be a space full of music again“, he announced.
After Iceland’s withdrawal, There are 34 countries that maintain their participation in the competition. In total, five of them decided to boycott the event, despite the existence of a ceasefire and a peace agreement process in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas.
The number of states that continue to participate in the competition can vary, as can the number of wayward countries. The only network that has not yet commented on its participation is the Armenian channel AMPTV..
The Caucasian country usually only confirms its participation in the festival after the official announcement from the EBU. that we will have to wait for the declaration of the pan-European organization to find out if he joins the rebels or if he stays at the Song Festival.
Headquarters of RTP, Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, in Lisbon.
Creative Commons
Political pressures in Portugal
Although Portugal has confirmed its presence at the 70th edition, political pressure seeks to force its withdrawal. 11 of the 16 artists who will attend the Festival da Canção, which in Portugal decides each year the country’s representative at Eurovision, assured this Wednesday 10 that They will not participate in the European competition in 2026 if they are chosen.
In a statement, 11 of the 16 participants in the national competition, which will take place in March next year, declared their refusal to participate in Eurovision because they understand that “the country and the world are experiencing times when being silent” means being complicit of a “tragedy”.
The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest It will be held from May 12 to 16, 2026 in Vienna. The Wiener Stadthalle in the Imperial City will once again host the event, having hosted this event in 2015.
About The Author
