Iceland holds referendum on resuming EU accession talks

On August 29, 2026, Iceland held a national referendum asking voters whether the government should resume formal accession negotiations with the European Union. Approximately 273,000 eligible voters were asked to decide on the country's strategic alignment amid evolving geopolitical tensions, including concerns over Russian security and debates regarding the status of Greenland. The polls were open from 9:00 to 22:00 local time.

Iceland had previously sought EU membership in 2009 following a severe financial crisis but suspended negotiations in 2013 and officially withdrew the application in 2015. While a "yes" vote would authorize the government to re-enter talks, it does not guarantee immediate membership, as any final agreement would be subject to a subsequent national referendum. Pre-election polling by Maskína indicated a tight race, with 50.4% in favor of resuming talks and 49.6% opposed.

As of the early hours of August 30, counting was ongoing. With over 50% of the votes processed, state broadcaster RUV reported an extremely narrow lead for the "no" campaign, with a margin of approximately 400 votes. Officials indicated that the final outcome remains uncertain until the full count is completed.