Iceland holds referendum on resuming European Union membership talks

Icelandic voters went to the polls on 29 August 2026 to decide whether their government should restart EU membership talks. The vote was close. Surveys before the referendum showed support at roughly 48 to 52 percent in favour of resuming negotiations.

This was not a vote on joining the EU directly. If voters said yes, the government would only begin formal accession talks. A separate referendum would be needed later to approve any final agreement.

Iceland first applied to join the EU after its financial crisis in 2008 but stopped the process in 2012. One major concern is fishing rights, because EU rules would reduce Iceland's control over its own fishing industry. The government said a no vote would end the debate for a generation.