Despite growing calls for a boycott, early betting odds place Israel as the leading contender to win Eurovision 2026 in Vienna – before any song has been chosen.
With the release of the first betting odds for Eurovision 2026, scheduled for May in Vienna, excitement surrounding the 70th edition of the contest is already rapidly building. The international betting platform Betfair published its initial odds, placing Israel as the frontrunner for victory. This ranking comes shortly after Israel’s participation was officially confirmed during the EBU General Assembly and amid the country’s consistently strong performance in the televote in recent years.
Israel on Top – Who Follows?
Alongside Israel, ranked first, Sweden holds second place, consistent with its longstanding reputation as one of the most successful countries in Eurovision history. Finland, benefiting from a significant renewal in its national selection process, sits in third. Ukraine, which almost every year enjoys substantial televote support, ranks fourth, while Italy – bolstered by its iconic Sanremo Festival – completes the top five.
Further down the top ten are Luxembourg, France, Norway, Belgium, and Bulgaria.
Leading Despite Boycott Calls
One of the most striking elements in the ranking is that Israel remains in first place despite rising international calls for a boycott from several countries, including Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland. These strong political statements have not affected betting trends – on the contrary. Israel continues to be perceived as a country with significant competitive potential, both musically and due to its broad support within the global Eurovision fanbase.
Too Early to Predict – But Already Fascinating
It is important to emphasize that at this stage, no songs or substantial details about most participating countries have been revealed. Early betting odds typically reflect a blend of tradition, long-term voting patterns, and general expectations – not necessarily the final outcome. Nonetheless, Israel’s early lead highlights the high level of confidence bettors have in its musical capabilities and consistent performance in recent editions.
As we move toward May 2026, the odds will shift repeatedly, but one thing is already clear: anticipation for the 70th Eurovision, taking place in Vienna, continues to rise. At Euromix, we will keep you updated on every change, development, and piece of news on the road to the upcoming contest.
Israel at Eurovision 2025
“New Day Will Rise” is the song performed by Yuval Raphael, who was chosen to represent Israel after winning the 11th season of “HaKokhav HaBa”. Israel advanced to the final after winning the second semi-final with 203 points and finished second overall with 357 points in the grand final. Israel ranked first in the public vote but only 14th with the jury. This marks the third consecutive year that Israel has reached the top five – an unprecedented achievement.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Israel’s 48th participation in Eurovision. Israel joined the contest in 1973 and has won four times. Its most recent victory was at Eurovision 2018 with the song “Toy”, performed by singer Netta Barzilai.
