This morning the EBU confirmed that Eurovision 2019 would be hosted in Tel Aviv, and now Icelandic broadcaster RÚV has confirmed that Iceland will be there in May. The broadcaster revealed that they were waiting until the host city was confirmed as they may have been less happy to go to Jerusalem.
Fans had noticed that Iceland was well overdue in confirming their participation for Eurovision 2019. The Nordic nation normally confirms around mid-August. But it turns out there was a very specific reason for that delay.
Earlier this year, a petition and pressure campaign was launched, with many Icelandic stars urging the broadcaster to boycott the contest over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Last week a number of international artists — including Söngvakeppnin 2017 runner-up Daði Freyr and 2017 finalist Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir — signed a petition urging a boycott of the Israel-hosted contest.
The issue was discussed by the RÚV board. Now that the host city for Eurovision 2019 has been confirmed as Tel Aviv and not the potentially problematic Jerusalem, Iceland has decided to go ahead with Eurovision 2019.
The broadcaster notes that all the other Nordic nations — Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland — have confirmed for Eurovision 2019.
Skarphéðinn Guðmundsson, the program director of RÚV, explained the decision. He said, “The decision is based on the fact that there is no political event. On the contrary, it is a gathering of different nations, whose main purpose is the broadcasting and communion of unity and peace, using contemporary music and culture in general.”
The broadcaster has not, however, confirmed how they will select their act for Eurovision 2019. It is most likely that they will again use their national final Söngvakeppnin. However, as Iceland has not qualified for the Eurovision final in the past four years and even placed last in their Lisbon semi-final, the broadcaster may be considering ways to revamp their selection process.
What do you think? Are you glad Iceland will be part of Eurovision 2018? How should they select their act? Share your thoughts below!
Send Björk already and win!
Sad that Iceland’s greatest hope Daði Freyr won’t be part of the show this year.
Really, greatest hope? Never knew hope could be this hopeless.
Welcome to the party Iceland! I guess it’s time for me to change my username too…
Was gonna say
It bothers me that they would let politics ruin Eurovision
However, I’m just happy that Iceland will compete 🙂
Last time Iceland participated in Israel, they came 2nd, maybe they will be lucky once again or perhaps, all out of luck 😉
Great news! I can’t wait for them to announce their retirement from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar citing their human rights violatins!
Iceland should win the “Profiles in Courage” award for their approach.
More like “Donkey of the Year”
I think Songvakkepnin is fine, they just have to make sure to select the right songs and to promote their entry right….. and also to revamp their staging team, they seemed lacking in executing a good performance.
At least now we know why the threat of a boycott started in the first place.
But why still just 25 countrys conifrim coming the super sad
There is still ages for broadcasters to confirm participation, I predict that only San Marino and maybe Montenegro will withdraw from 2019.
I think San Marino and Ralph Siegel will outlive us all. After nuclear armageddon will have destroyed the earth as we know it, San Marino and Ralph Siegel will still be sending tedious songs they took out of Dieter Bohlen’s dustbin.
One day, all that will remain is Ralph Siegel and Philip Kirkirov slugging it out against each other.
You guys are killing me xDDD
I hope San Marino and Montenegro don’t withdraw!
San Marino simply made a mistake this year, they had Sara de Blue, the selection wasn’t that horrible, just fix it
As for Montenegro, I loved Inje, not a fan of their staging though
LOL hipocrisy…
Since they want to boycott the event anyway, there is no reason for the petition signers to participate in the national final which hopefully means that someone talented is going to get their place. It all works out. Also, after 2018, Iceland has nowhere to go but up. I don’t even mean it with regards to their well-deserved 43rd place as sometimes even good songs can score poor results. They have nowhere to go but up in terms of quality. This is about the songwriters. The Icelandic broadcaster should think long and hard about who they accept or even to… Read more »
They should do what UGK is doing and make it invite-only.
Help me out here, what is UGK?
They meant UMK
Bring back Selma!
Iceland’s statements about Withdrawing sounded chilling until Tel Aviv was announced.
I’m glad they decided not to withdraw. Eurovision wouldn’t be the same without Iceland.
Funny how they were more than happy to cruise to a second place in Jerusalem but nevertheless, glad to have them onboard.
Honestly such a cocky attitude from iceland…