Overview
- The referendum, set for 29 August 2026, asks voters whether Iceland should resume EU accession negotiations that were suspended more than a decade ago.
- Brussels is publicly pressing for a yes vote and says it will handle fisheries carefully to respect the sector’s importance to Iceland.
- Fisheries remain the decisive issue because fish exports make up about 40 percent of Iceland’s exports and the powerful fishing lobby opposed talks in the past.
- Recent polls show a very close race and the campaign has sharply divided voters with both sides warning of major economic and sovereignty consequences.
- Iceland first applied in 2009, opened 27 of 33 negotiation chapters before talks were halted in 2013, and formally withdrew its application in March 2015.