Iceland is has become the fifth country to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
It comes after Israel was given the go-ahead to compete, deepening the crisis facing the competition.
Pro Palestine protesters gathered outside the country's public broadcaster, which announced Iceland's decision on Wednesday.
The decision to allow Israel to take part next May had already prompted Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to boycott in protest over Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war.
The European Broadcasting Union which hosts the live TV song contest had in October postponed a key vote on Israel's participation to December citing the Gaza ceasefire.
The union said discussions would resume “once the situation in the Middle East becomes clearer.”
Originally scheduled in November, the vote was finally taken in early December with Israel receving the go ahead to participate, prompting four countries to boycott the event participation in protest.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog thanked the country's supporters, expressing hope that the song contest would continue to promote "culture, music, and friendship between nations."
Austria, which will host the 2026 contest in Vienna after its victory in the 2025 contest.
According to the EBU, organisers of the event, the Eurovision Song Contest is an internationally televised songwriting competition featuring participants chosen by EBU member broadcasters representing their countries from across Europe and beyond.
Each Participating Broadcaster has until mid-March to choose a song and an artist to perform it.
Participants then compete at the Eurovision Song Contest, traditionally held in May.
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Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 14 October 2026, featuring the top five culture and entertainment stories from around the world.
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