Icelanders are casting ballots on whether to restart EU accession negotiations, with opinion polls showing the race is too close to call and a narrow lead for a “Yes” vote weakening in the final days. Results are expected early on Sunday.
The vote decides whether Iceland should move back towards EU membership talks or reject even beginning discussions on what an agreement might involve.
How The Vote Works
Polling stations open from 9am to 10pm local time.
A “Yes” vote would not commit Iceland to joining the EU. Instead, it would reopen accession talks, and any eventual deal would be submitted to another referendum before any change took place.
The referendum is advisory and not legally binding, but a clear “Yes” outcome would place political pressure on Reykjavik to move forward.
Background To EU Talks
Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009 following its financial crisis. In 2013, a new Eurosceptic government took office and suspended EU accession negotiations. The country later formally withdrew its candidate status in 2015.
A pro-EU coalition then won the 2024 election after campaigning on a pledge to hold a referendum on resuming the process, and the vote is taking place today.
Tight Polling And Early Turnout
With just under 400,000 residents, Iceland would become the EU’s smallest member state by population, a position currently held by Malta. Despite its size, the referendum is being closely watched because it offers a test of whether the EU can still attract wealthier Nordic countries, with Norway monitoring events.
Early voting has been unusually high. Icelandic media reported that more than 40,000 people, or nearly 15% of the electorate, had cast ballots by Wednesday. Early voting had opened on 27 July, and the unusually long early-voting period makes direct comparisons with previous elections difficult.
Polls have tightened steadily, leaving the outcome uncertain. A latest survey by market research firm Maskína, conducted between 21 and 25 August, put support for resuming negotiations at 51.3%, compared with 48.7% for “No”.
A Gallup poll released on Thursday showed “No” narrowly ahead, although the difference was within the margin of error, suggesting the final picture may have shifted further.
What Happens Next
Initial results are expected in the early hours of Sunday morning, following a day-long vote that will determine whether EU accession talks resume.
If the majority backs “Yes”, Iceland would face renewed negotiations, while any potential membership would still require a separate referendum at a later date.
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29 August 2026
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