Eurovision Song Contest

Who gave Israel the coveted 12 points? Noam Bettan secures 2nd at Eurovision thanks to public vote

Despite mass calls to boycott due to Israel’s participation, which led to several countries withdrawing from the contest entirely, Israel scored a whopping 220 points from the public televote.

Noam Bettan with dancers
 Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a plenary session of the lower house of the Spanish parliament, in Madrid, Spain, May 22, 2024.

Spainish PM Pedro Sánchez defends Spain’s Eurovision boycott over Israel’s participation

ISRAELI SINGER Noam Bettan, representing Israel with the song 'Michelle', celebrates in the artist's zone during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 (ESC) at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria on May 16, 2026.

Israel’s Noam Bettan takes second place in Eurovision 2026, Bulgaria wins

‘Angel for Jerusalem’

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Noam Bettan strolls through Israel's musical history in Eurovision trailer

Bettan, who is representing Israel with the upbeat song, was filmed dancing to excerpts from Israel’s four winning Eurovision songs before bursting into a few bars of the 2026 song.

Noam Bettan, winner of the reality show "The Next Star" poses for a picture after winning the final in Neve Ilan, near Jerusalem, January 21, 2026.

After five countries quit Eurovision over Israel, over 1,000 entertainment figures push back

Over 1,000 entertainment industry leaders sign letter backing Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision, rejecting boycott efforts and emphasizing music’s unifying power.

Noam Bettan, Israel's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, poses in this undated handout photo.

Spain announces it will not broadcast Eurovision due to Israel’s participation

The Eurovision Fun website reported that Spain’s public broadcaster, RTVE, had announced it would not air the song contest for the first time since the country began participating in 1961.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators call for an Irish boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if there is Israeli participation, outside RTE Irish public television studios in Dublin, last month.

Danish Eurovision contestant addresses pro-Israel Instagram story backlash

Some countries participating in Eurovision have called for Israel's exclusion from the competition due to the war against Hamas in Gaza, but the EBU declined to put the matter to a vote.

Moderator Austrian singer Cesar Sampson holds a draw for Denmark during the draw session for the two semi-final events of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on stage at the Vienna's city hall in Vienna, Austria, on January 12, 2026.

Eurovision Song Contest oddsmakers predict Israel will win televoting again this year

The Eurovision World website presented the oddsmakers who predict the televoting results separately from the overall results, and according to them, Israel has a 26% chance of topping the televoting.

People cheer as they watch the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest finals being screened at a community center in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 17, 2025.

WATCH: 'Michelle,' Israel’s Eurovision song, revealed in a performance by Noam Bettan

The song includes lyrics in Hebrew, French, and English. The lyrics were written by Nadav Aharoni, Tzlil Kalifi, and Yuval Raphael. Aharoni and Kalifi composed the music, and Aharoni is the producer.

Noam Bettan, winner of the reality show "The Next Star" poses for a picture after winning the final in Neve Ilan, near Jerusalem, January 21, 2026.

Israel announces title of 2026 Eurovision song contest entry: 'Michelle'

"Michelle" will be revealed in full for the first time in a festive broadcast on KAN 11 on March 5.

Noam Bettan will represent Israel at Eurovision 2026.

Swiss Eurovision winner's trophy shattered while returning to EBU in protest of Israel

Nemo suffered a hand injury shortly after receiving the trophy in 2024 when the notoriously fragile glass trophy broke for the first time.

Nemo representing Switzerland celebrates after winning during the Grand Final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, in Malmo, Sweden, May 12, 2024.

EBU approves Israel's 2026 Eurovision song after undergoing minor adjustments

Each song undergoes a review process, and EBU officials requested a few minor adjustments for Israel's entry, which the Israeli songwriters agreed to.

Noam Bettan will represent Israel at Eurovision 2026.

Former Eurovision contestant Yuval Raphael co-writes song selected for this year's submission

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN announced Friday that the song, which was written by Raphael with Nadav Aharoni and Tzlil Klipi, was selected on Friday by its professional committee.

 Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, performs "New Day Will Rise", during the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025.