Members of the Euromix editorial team convened to vote for the competing artists in HaKochav HaBa 2026. Who should represent Israel at Eurovision according to the editorial team?
The Israeli Eurovision national selection, “HaKochav HaBa 2026,” is set to take place tomorrow at 20:30 (CET), featuring 4 contestants – Noam Bettan, Shira Zloof, Gal De Paz and Alona Erez. The winner of this local competition will represent Israel at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. In anticipation of this event, Euromix editorial team members gathered and voted to their favorites to win the national selection and represent Israel in Vienna.
Editorial Picks: Who Should Represent Israel?
Avi Zaikaner: First Place – Gal De Paz
The choice isn’t simple – but in the moment of truth, during those high-pressure moments that Eurovision demands – I want someone with a rare voice, a stage animal who delivers an unforgettable performance, and a charisma that’s impossible to miss. You can count on Gal De Paz! She has everything it takes to surprise Europe. She can bring something special and diverse that hasn’t been heard on the competition stage before, allowing her to stand out among other entries. If we want to play it safe – it has to be Gal.
Tal Dahan: First Place – Shira Zloof
Throughout all the seasons of “HaKokhav HaBa,” I never found myself falling in love with a contestant’s original songs during the show – until Shira Zloof first took the stage. She has it all – a pleasant, soothing voice, a charismatic and humorous personality, and raw, honest, non-cliché songwriting that hits right at the heart. Her delivery leaves her soul exposed to everyone, and it all comes together into unforgettable performances and songs you can’t listen to without being moved. She proved her mental resilience performance after performance, even when she had to deal with losing her voice during the critical stages of the show – all of which were filmed consecutively on the same day. Shira Zloof is here to stay, and I truly hope she is given the opportunity to represent Israel at Eurovision and touch every heart in Europe with her uniqueness!
Noy Yehoyada: First Place – Shira Zloof
My winner for “HaKokhav HaBa” and our representative for Eurovision 2026 is, of course, Shira Zloof. While this season featured many contestants with high-level vocal abilities, Shira’s voice stood out to me the most from the start. As a singer-songwriter, she has everything needed: a unique and pleasant voice, incredible emotional expression, and deep lyrical content dealing with important, painful, and personal issues – all of which she successfully conveys to the audience. Shira showed us throughout the season that she can perform any style in any situation and that she will fight on stage no matter what. Even when she was voiceless, she managed to deliver impressive, chilling performances that didn’t leave a dry eye in the audience. I can’t wait to see Shira on the Eurovision stage in Vienna; I know she will represent us with pride and could bring us the win with her authentic and distinct style!
Aviad Berger: First Place – Noam Bettan
“HaKokhav HaBa” is ending a particularly weak season. Unfortunately, even though those who reached the finish line are the best and most deserving, this feels like a disappointing final. Nevertheless, my undisputed winner is Noam Bettan. Noam proved time and again that he is the right man for the job – precise performances, diverse song choices, and a significant improvement in his English since the start of the season. Noam has the whole package. I would also be happy to see Shira Zloof in the competition, but in her case, I fear she might lose her artistic identity if she wins. Either way, I wish the Israeli representative luck – whoever is chosen, we will stand behind them.
Maor Heumann: First Place – Gal De Paz
From the moment I learned Gal De Paz was competing, it was clear she would be one of my favorites, and my love for her only grew with every episode. I went to her live show to see if what I saw on TV translated to reality, and I was happy to find that it did. Gal is a magnificent singer with immense vocal range. The fact that she is also a gifted creator who can deliver a moving Hebrew ballad, go wild with kick-ass Rock n’ Roll with her band, and shine in upbeat pop songs only strengthens my feeling that if Israel wants to go for the jackpot, there is only one singer to send to Vienna. Gal De Paz is 100% music, and that’s all we need.
Ofek Jerassi: First Place – Noam Bettan
I’ll start by saying that I think this is a very weak season of “HaKokhav HaBa,” and unfortunately, I can’t see any of the contestants taking the trophy in Vienna. This ranking isn’t about the artists themselves, but about their suitability for Eurovision, and there, Noam Bettan is far ahead. Noam manages to fit the mainstream international style typical of Eurovision into his own “box,” delivering polished performances time after time that I can easily see on the world’s biggest stage. In fact, I believe that with a song like “Madame,” Noam could bring Israel another Top 5 finish. The other three artists are good in their own fields – Alona is a bit green in my opinion and hasn’t formed her musical identity yet, while Gal and Shira are excellent in their respective styles, but I don’t see them succeeding in a competition like Eurovision. Good luck, and Am Israel Chai!
Adiel Shtainmetz: First Place – Noam Battan
What a strong final! I really don’t understand why many think this is one of the weakest seasons; I completely disagree. We have three finalists I would be more than happy to see representing us – they are so talented! As long as Gal, Shira Zloof, or Noam win (which is almost certain), I’ll be thrilled. But if I must choose a favorite, I choose Noam Bettan. He is such a good singer, bursting with charisma and very versatile in the styles he can perform. For the final, I’ll be voting for Noam, but it all depends on the live performances. Good luck to everyone – you’re all stars!
Shahar “Chacha” Asido: First Place – Gal De Paz
I would love for Gal De Paz to be our Eurovision representative for every possible reason: the way she sings and delivers a song is simply charming; she has it all – joy, rhythm, emotion, and soul. Additionally, Gal has an incredible personality; off-stage she is very introverted and gentle, but on-stage she has a massive presence (something that will make all of Europe fall in love with her). Lastly, Gal can sing in both Hebrew and English at the highest levels, allowing Israel to be diverse in its song choice this year. In short – Gal De Paz to Vienna!
Talor Fishler: First Place – Shira Zloof
First of all, and despite everything, we have four very strong contestants, and I can personally see any of them representing us with dignity. Although I said throughout the season that I didn’t want to pick a favorite, Shira Zloof is the most deserving candidate. The way she fought to stay in the competition against all odds shows that Shira can handle anything Eurovision throws at her. With a unique voice and an even more unique imagination, I am sure Shira can create a show that will bring Eurovision to Petah Tikva!
Neta Geffen: First Place – Gal De Paz
Gal De Paz is my choice for Eurovision 2026! She has a powerful and unique voice that will stand out for all the right reasons on the stage in Vienna. She brings a wealth of experience along with precise, emotional performances and vocal control that captivates the audience from start to finish. With all due respect to the other strong candidates, I believe Gal is the most suitable choice, and with the right song, she could bring us another Top 5 finish.
Talia Raviv: First Place – Gal De Paz
For me, Gal De Paz is the ultimate winner of “HaKokhav HaBa.” Gal has vast experience and incredible vocal abilities that rival the great divas of history. She is exceptionally charismatic and knows how to own the stage and take the audience with her. Unlike other contestants, Gal came to learn, improve, and show everyone who she really is. Throughout the season, it was very important to her to apply the judges’ feedback, and she delivered diverse performances that only got better, proving how versatile and talented she is. Gal has completely proven to me that she is the ideal representative for Israel this year. Good luck!
Oscar Diefenthal: First Place – Noam Bettan
After three consecutive years of Israel being represented by female singers, choosing a male artist like Noam Bettan feels natural and right for this moment. He is an artist who brings true emotional depth, a sweeping voice, and a presence that doesn’t rely on gimmicks but on pure music. His ability to sing in Hebrew, English, and French creates a broad connection and reflects Israel as it truly is: multicultural, complex, and confident in its identity. In my eyes, Noam Battan is not just a worthy candidate; he is the right choice to represent us at Eurovision.
Nadav Tsfati: First Place – Shira Zloof
For me, Shira Zloof is Israel’s representative for Eurovision 2026! Shira is a talented and unique singer-songwriter (a true creator), she is charismatic and knows how to display a great stage presence that draws the audience in. Even when she lost her voice, she fought and managed to deliver impressive performances despite the vocal struggles. I believe Shira can successfully stand on the Eurovision stage in Vienna and represent Israel with honor.
Ido Naaman: First Place – Gal De Paz
Throughout the season, Gal De Paz delivered diverse performances across all genres, proving she can do it all! Her extensive stage experience certainly doesn’t hurt, and her stage presence is noticeably stronger than the other contestants. If Gal is sent to Vienna, no fan in Europe will be able to ignore her presence, her charisma, and of course, her insane vocal abilities. With the right song, Gal could bring Israel a Top 3 result or even a victory!
Full Results
| Artist | Avi | Tal | Noy | Aviad | Maor | Ofek | Adiel | Shahar | Talor | Neta | Talya | Oscar | Nadav | Ido | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shira Zloof | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 144 |
| Gal De Paz | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 141 |
| Noam Bettan | 8 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 129 |
| Alona Erez | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 104 |
Our Winner: Shira Zloof
Shira Zloof is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Tel Aviv and a former fencer who represented Israel in the World and European Championships. She competed in the fifth season of The Voice Israel, finishing in ninth place. In 2024, Shira released an album titled “Af Pa’am Lo Hayiti Barbie” (in English: “I Was Never a Barbie”), and she performed several songs from the album during the show, including “Ma’ariv LaNo’ar” and “Abir Al Sus Lavan Be’emtza Florentin” (in English: “Prince on a White Horse in the Middle of Florentin”).
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.
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Phone: +972-50-9441919
Tal Dahan – Journalist, radio broadcaster, and Eurovision content creator.
Tal Dahan is an Israeli journalist and editor specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest, working with the EuroMix editorial team for four years. Since 2022, she has provided regular on-site coverage of Eurovision from the host city, and from 2023 has also reported directly from the press room—offering the Israeli audience live updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth commentary.
Tal is a member of the Eurovision tribute and parody band “EuroFalsh,” a radio broadcaster, and a student of political science and communications.
She is considered one of Israel’s leading young Eurovision experts. In addition to covering the main contest, Tal has reported from Eurovision pre-parties and national selection events across Europe (in Thessaloniki, Stockholm, Madrid, and more), been interviewed by major media outlets in Israel and internationally, and presented Eurovision-themed podcasts and radio shows.
