Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
{{Short description|none}}
{{more footnotes|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox song contest country
| Name = Iceland
| Contest = ESC
| Broadcaster = {{lang|is|Ríkisútvarpið|i=unset}} (RÚV)
| Apps = 37 (28 finals)
| First = {{Escyr|1986}}
| Highest = 2nd: {{Escyr|1999}}, {{Escyr|2009}}
| Related = {{lang|is|Söngvakeppnin|i=unset}}
| Website = [https://www.ruv.is/songvakeppnin RÚV page]
| Current = 2025
}}
Iceland has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 37 times since its debut in {{Escyr|1986}}, missing only two contests since then, in {{Escyr|1998}} and {{Escyr|2002}}, when prevented from competing due to finishing outside qualification places the preceding years. The country's best result is second place, which it achieved with "All Out of Luck" by Selma in {{escyr|1999}} and "Is It True?" by Yohanna in {{escyr|2009}}. The Icelandic participating broadcaster in the contest is Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV), which select its entrant with the national competition Söngvakeppnin.
Iceland has achieved a total of seven top ten placements, with the others being "{{lang|is|Eitt lag enn|i=no}}" by Stjórnin finishing fourth ({{escyr|1990}}), "{{lang|is|Nei eða já|i=no}}" by Heart 2 Heart seventh ({{escyr|1992}}), "Open Your Heart" by Birgitta eighth ({{escyr|2003}}), "{{lang|is|Hatrið mun sigra|i=no}}" by Hatari tenth ({{escyr|2019}}), and "10 Years" by Daði og Gagnamagnið fourth ({{Escyr|2021}}). Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Iceland has failed to qualify for the final nine times, including four years consecutively (2015–18). To date, Iceland is the only Nordic country that has yet to win the contest.
History
Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. It has participated in the contest representing Iceland since its {{escyr|1986||31st edition}} in 1986, 20 years after RÚV was founded.
Iceland's best placing at the contest is second place, which it has achieved twice: in {{Escyr|1999}} with the song "All Out of Luck" performed by Selma, beaten by {{Esccnty|Sweden|y=1999}}'s "Take Me to Your Heaven" by Charlotte Nilsson, and in {{Escyr|2009}} with "Is It True?" performed by Yohanna, beaten by {{Esccnty|Norway|y=2009}}'s "Fairytale" by Alexander Rybak.
In contrast Iceland's worst result in a final is last place, which has been achieved twice to date: in {{Escyr|1989}}, when "Það sem enginn sér" by Daníel Ágúst received no points, and in {{Escyr|2001}}, when "Angel" by Two Tricky received three points.
With the introduction of semi-finals in {{Escyr|2004}}, Iceland automatically qualified for the final that year due to Birgitta's eighth place the previous year. In {{Escyr|2008}}, Iceland reached the final for the first time since then, with "This Is My Life" by Euroband. Iceland qualified for the final in seven consecutive contests between {{Escyr|2008}} and {{Escyr|2014}} before failing to qualify for the final from {{Escyr|2015}} to {{Escyr|2018}}. In {{escyr|2019}}, Hatari brought the country back to the final for the first time since 2014, finishing tenth, which was followed by a fourth-place finish for Daði og Gagnamagnið in {{Escyr|2021}}, Iceland's joint-second best result to date, and a 23rd-place finish for Systur in {{Escyr|2022}}. Further non-qualifications came in {{Escyr|2023}} and {{Escyr|2024}}.
Despite these mixed fortunes, Iceland is the second most successful country never to have won the contest (behind only {{Esccnty|Malta}}).
Sigríður Beinteinsdóttir has participated five times (as a member of a group in 1990 and 1992, as a solo artist in 1994, and as a background vocalist in 1991 and 2006). Hera Björk has also participated five times (as a backing vocalist in 2008, 2009 and 2015, and as a solo artist in 2010 and 2024). Stefán Hilmarsson has participated twice (as a member of a group in 1988 and in a duo with Eyfi in 1991), as have Selma Björnsdóttir (1999 and 2005), Eiríkur Hauksson (as a member of a group in 1986 and as a solo artist in 2007; Eiríkur has additionally participated for Norway in 1991 as a member of Just 4 Fun). Jón Jósep Snæbjörnsson entered as a solo artist in 2004 before participating in a duo with Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir in 2012; Greta Salóme later entered as a solo artist in 2016.
Participation overview
class="wikitable" |
+ Table key |
style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFD700;" | 1
| First place |
style="text-align:center; background-color:#CCC;" | 2
| Second place |
style="text-align:center; background-color:#C96;" | 3
| Third place |
style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | ◁
| Last place |
style="text-align:center; background-color:#A4EAA9;" | X
| Entry selected but did not compete |
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Artist ! scope="col" | Song ! scope="col" | Language ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Final ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Points ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Semi ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Points |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1986}}
| ICY | "{{lang|is|Gleðibankinn|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | style="text-align:center;" | 19 | colspan="2" rowspan="7" {{N/A|No semi-finals}} |
---|
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1987}}
| "{{lang|is|Hægt og hljótt|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | style="text-align:center;" | 28 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1988}}
| Beathoven | "{{lang|is|Sókrates|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | style="text-align:center;" | 20 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1989}}
| Daníel | "{{lang|is|Það sem enginn sér|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 22 ◁ | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 0 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1990}}
| Stjórnin | "{{lang|is|Eitt lag enn|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | 124 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1991}}
| Stefán and Eyfi | "{{lang|is|Nína|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | style="text-align:center;" | 26 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1992}}
| "{{lang|is|Nei eða já|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 7 | style="text-align:center;" | 80 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1993}}
| Inga | "{{lang|is|Þá veistu svarið|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 13 | style="text-align:center;" | 42 | colspan="2" {{N/A|{{lang|sl|Kvalifikacija za Millstreet}}}} |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1994}}
| Sigga | "{{lang|is|Nætur|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 12 | style="text-align:center;" | 49 | colspan="2" rowspan="2" {{N/A|No semi-finals}} |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1995}}
| "{{lang|is|Núna|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | style="text-align:center;" | 31 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1996}}
| "{{lang|is|Sjúbídú|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 13 | style="text-align:center;" | 51 | style="text-align:center;" | 10 | style="text-align:center;" | 59 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1997}}
| "{{lang|is|Minn hinsti dans|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 20 | style="text-align:center;" | 18 | rowspan="5" colspan="2" {{N/A|No semi-finals}} |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|1999}}
| Selma | "All Out of Luck" | English | style="text-align:center; background-color:#CCC;" | 2 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#CCC;" | 146 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2000}}
| August and Telma | "Tell Me!" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 12 | style="text-align:center;" | 45 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2001}}
| Two Tricky | "Angel" | English | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 22 ◁ | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 3 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2003}}
| Birgitta | "Open Your Heart" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | style="text-align:center;" | 81 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2004}}
| Jónsi | "Heaven" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 19 | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | colspan="2" data-sort-value="-9999" {{N/A|Top 11 in 2003 contest}}{{efn|name=note2|According to the then-Eurovision rules, the top ten non-Big Four countries from the previous year along with the Big Four automatically qualified for the Grand Final without having to compete in semi-finals. For example, if Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the 11th and 12th spots were advanced to next year's Grand Final along with all countries ranked in the top ten.}} |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2005}}
| Selma | English | colspan="2" rowspan="3" {{N/A|Failed to qualify}} | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | style="text-align:center;" | 52 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2006}}
| "Congratulations" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 13 | style="text-align:center;" | 62 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2007}}
| "Valentine Lost" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 13 | style="text-align:center;" | 77 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2008}}
| Euroband | "This Is My Life" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 14 | style="text-align:center;" | 64 | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | style="text-align:center;" | 68 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2009}}
|"Is It True?" |English | style="text-align:center; background-color:#CCC;" | 2 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#CCC;" | 218 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFD700;" | 1 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFD700;" | 174 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2010}}
| "{{lang|fr|Je ne sais quoi|i=no}}" | English, French | style="text-align:center;" | 19 | style="text-align:center;" | 41 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#C96;" | 3 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#C96;" | 123 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2011}}
| "Coming Home" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 20 | style="text-align:center;" | 61 | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | 100 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2012}}
| Greta Salóme and Jónsi | "Never Forget" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 20 | style="text-align:center;" | 46 | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | style="text-align:center;" | 75 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2013}}
| "{{lang|is|Ég á líf|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 17 | style="text-align:center;" | 47 | style="text-align:center;" | 6 | style="text-align:center;" | 72 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2014}}
| "No Prejudice" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | style="text-align:center;" | 58 | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | style="text-align:center;" | 61 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2015}}
| "Unbroken" | English | rowspan="4" colspan="2" {{N/A|Failed to qualify}} | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | style="text-align:center;" | 14 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2016}}
| Greta Salóme | English | style="text-align:center;" | 14 | style="text-align:center;" | 51 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2017}}
| Svala | "Paper" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | style="text-align:center;" | 60 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2018}}
| "Our Choice" | English | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 19 ◁ | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 15 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2019}}
| Hatari | "{{lang|is|Hatrið mun sigra|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 10 | style="text-align:center;" | 232 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#C96;" | 3 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#C96;" | 221 |
style="background-color:#A4EAA9;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2020}} | English | colspan="4" {{N/A|Contest cancelled}}{{Efn|The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.}} X |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2021}}
| Daði {{lang|is|og Gagnamagnið|i=no}} | "10 Years" | English | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | 378 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#CCC;" | 2 | style="text-align:center; background-color:#CCC;" | 288 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2022}}
| Systur | "{{lang|is|Með hækkandi sól|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 23 | style="text-align:center;" | 20 | style="text-align:center;" | 10 | style="text-align:center;" | 103 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{escyr|2023}}
| Diljá | "Power" | English | rowspan="2" colspan="2" {{N/A|Failed to qualify}} | style="text-align:center;" | 11 | style="text-align:center;" | 44 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{escyr|2024}}
| Hera Björk | English | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 15 ◁ | style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | 3 |
scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | {{Escyr|2025}}
| Væb | "{{lang|is|Róa|i=unset}}" | Icelandic | style="text-align:center;" | 25 | style="text-align:center;" | 33 | style="text-align:center;" | 6 | style="text-align:center;" | 97 |
Related involvement
=Conductors=
class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Year !Conductor{{Efn|All conductors are of Icelandic nationality unless otherwise noted.}} !Notes !{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1986}}
|Gunnar Þórðarson |{{Efn|Conducted by Þórir Baldursson at the national final.}} |rowspan="4"|{{cite book |last1=Roxburgh |first1=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2016 |publisher=Telos Publishing |location=Prestatyn |isbn=978-1-84583-118-9 |volume=Three: The 1980s}} |
---|
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1987}}
|Hjálmar H. Ragnarsson | |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1988}}
|rowspan="2" {{N/A|No conductor}} | |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1989}}
| |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1990}}
|{{flagicon|Norway}} Jon Kjell Seljeseth |{{Efn|Conducted by Vilhjálmur Guðjónsson in the national final.}} | |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1991}}
|Jón Ólafsson | | |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1992}}
|{{flagicon|UK}} Nigel Wright |{{Efn|Conducted by Jón Ólafsson in the national final.}} | |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1993}}
|{{flagicon|Norway}} Jon Kjell Seljeseth | | |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1994}}
|rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Frank McNamara | | |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1995}}
| | |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1996}}
|Ólafur Gaukur | | |
scope="row"|{{Escyr|1997}}
|{{flagicon|Poland}} Szymon Kuran | | |
=Heads of delegation=
=Commentators and spokespersons=
Iceland has broadcast the show since 1970. The first to be broadcast live was the 1983 edition after the plan to broadcast the 1982 contest failed. Since 1986, RÚV has broadcast the contest on the radio using same commentator for TV and radio and the Internet broadcast since early 2000s.
{{sticky header}}
==Other shows==
Photo gallery
File:ESC 2007 Iceland - Eirikur Hauksson - Valentine Lost.jpg|Eiríkur Hauksson in Helsinki ({{Escyr|2007}})
File:Iceland, Eurobandið, semi-final of Eurovision 2008.jpg|Euroband in Belgrade ({{Escyr|2008}})
File:Yohanna1.jpg|Yohanna in Moscow ({{Escyr|2009}})
File:Hera Björk 01.JPG|Hera Björk in Oslo ({{Escyr|2010}})
File:The Icelandic contenders.jpg|Greta Salóme and Jónsi in Baku ({{Escyr|2012}})
File:ESC2013 - Iceland 04 (crop).jpg|Eythor Ingi in Malmö ({{Escyr|2013}})
File:ESC2014 - Iceland 11 (crop).jpg|Pollapönk in Copenhagen ({{Escyr|2014}})
File:20150516 ESC 2015 Maria Olafs 8302.jpg|María Ólafs in Vienna ({{Escyr|2015}})
File:ESC2016 - Iceland 04.jpg|Greta Salóme in Stockholm ({{Escyr|2016}})
File:ESC2017 - Iceland 01.jpg|Svala in Kyiv ({{Escyr|2017}})
File:Ari Ólafsson 2018.jpg|Ari Ólafsson in Lisbon ({{Escyr|2018}})
File:Iceland-Hatari-ESC2019-002.jpg|Hatari in Tel Aviv ({{Escyr|2019}})
File:Eurovision 2022 - Semi-final 1 - Iceland - Systur.jpg|Systur in Turin ({{Escyr|2022}})
File:Eurovision 2023 - Jury Semi-final 2 - Iceland - Diljá (03).jpg|Diljá in Liverpool ({{Escyr|2023}})
File:Hera Björk Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Malmö Final dress rehearsal 05.jpg|Hera Björk in Malmö ({{Escyr|2024}})
File:Vaeb, Eurovision 2025 1st semi final live show 20.jpg|Væb in Basel ({{Escyr|2025}})
In popular culture
The 2020 Netflix comedy film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga stars Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, who portray a fictional duo from Iceland competing in Eurovision. Hannes Óli Ágústsson, who plays Olaf Yohansson in the film, reprised his role for the voting segment of the {{Escyr|2021|3=2021 contest}} final, in which he presented the points on behalf of the Icelandic jury.
Notes
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Authority control}}