The distorted square-planar coordination environment of the palladium(II) centre in [Pd(NCN)I].2I(2) [NCN is 2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl, C(12)H(19)N(2)] is defined by the monoanionic terdentate NCN ligand and one iodide anion. Two neutral I(2) molecules interact with the coordinated iodide anion at distances of approximately 3.3 A, suggesting an alternative description of the title compound as a palladium pentaiodide complex, i.e. [Pd(NCN)I(5)]. Weaker interactions of approximately 3.6 A between the I(5)(-) anions link the complexes into a two-dimensional network.