A day after the final, Noam Bettan strengthens Israel’s lead in Eurovision 2026 betting odds, despite online attacks and renewed calls to disqualify the country from the competition.
Just a day after the final of “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2026“, where Noam Bettan was chosen to represent Israel at Eurovision 2026, the betting tables have been updated — and Israel maintains its top position. Noam Betan, who secured first place in both the judges’ rankings and the public vote, now leads the betting odds to win the Eurovision Song Contest with a slight increase in probability.
According to the latest figures, Israel’s odds have risen from 10% to 11%, keeping the country firmly at the top even after the representative’s identity was revealed. This marks an immediate success for Noam Bettan, solidifying his reputation as one of the standout names early in the Eurovision 2026 season, even before the official song selection.
Global Reactions: Praise and Backlash
Alongside the surge in betting odds, Noam Bettan’s selection has sparked international debate. On social media, many Eurovision fans have expressed enthusiastic support, while others have shared anti-Israel sentiments and repeated demands to remove Israel from the competition. Some posts even target Bettan’s military background — a phenomenon that has accompanied Israel’s participation in the Eurovision contest in recent years.
Betting Charts: Tightening Race at the Top
Behind Israel, Finland has jumped sharply over the past week, climbing from fourth to second place following UMK’s of “Liekinheitin”, performed by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen. Sweden — traditionally one of Eurovision’s strongest contenders — holds third place, even though its entry has yet to be selected.
Other countries showing upward trends in recent weeks include Greece and Denmark. Greece, currently ranked fifth, has seen a spike in betting interest fueled by the viral success of “Ferto”, performed by Akylas in “Sing for Greece”. Denmark, now in eighth place, has gained momentum amid rumors about singer Sissal’s return to the competition — rumors that were officially confirmed this morning.
Who Has Already Chosen Their Eurovision 2026 song?
As of now, only four countries have selected their songs for Eurovision 2026. Malta, which chose the song “Bella” last Saturday, has made a significant jump from 23rd to 14th place. Moldova, which also held its “Selectia Nationala” last Saturday and chose the song “Viva, Moldova!”, dropped slightly from 23rd to 24th place. Montenegro, with the song “Nova Zora”, remains steady in 34th place. Albania, with the song “Nân”, continues to rank last at 35th place.
Courtesy of: eurovisionworld.com
The Significance of Early Betting Trends
It is important to emphasize that betting tables are based on public speculation and financial stakes placed by individuals who believe a specific country will win. At this point, the table serves as a map of expectations, much of which is based on historical performance rather than the current year’s musical content. These odds are expected to fluctuate thousands of times before May.
Historically, these trends offer a mixed bag of accuracy. Two years ago, Israel climbed to the top of the odds before its song was even released, eventually finishing fifth in the Grand Final. Conversely, Switzerland took the lead in April and went on to win. In 2022, Ukraine led the odds following the outbreak of war and maintained that momentum to victory. However, in 2021, Malta led for most of the season but ultimately finished seventh, while Italy surged during rehearsals to take the trophy.
Last year, the opening odds placed Israel in fourth. Despite various shifts that saw it drop to seventh in the betting closing prices, the entry actually achieved a remarkable second place finish. Because we are in such an early stage, these tables should be viewed with perspective, though they remain an essential tool for tracking momentum heading into the spring.
Eurovision 2026: The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Austria, following the country’s third historic win with the song “Wasted Love” performed by JJ. This will be the third time the contest is hosted in Austria, after 1967 and 2015.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
