Behind-the-scenes drama at Eurovision 2026: the Israeli national broadcaster KAN 11, acts against the attempted leak of Noam Bettan’s song, threatening harsh measures and warning that early exposure could jeopardize Israel’s participation.
The Israeli national broadcaster, KAN 11, has sent an urgent warning letter to media outlets following suspicions of an attempt to sell a leaked recording — allegedly Israel’s song for Eurovision 2026, as reported by Noam Cohen on N12. The broadcaster warns against publishing any part of Noam Bettan’s song, stressing that doing so could result in severe harm and potential sanctions.
KAN 11: “Avoid Publication – Or We’ll Take Actions”
In a letter sent in recent hours to the country’s media organizations, KAN 11 cautioned against any unauthorized publication of Israel’s selected entry for Eurovision 2026. The letter stated:
“The song itself, or any part of it, has not been published or released to date. The exclusive right of first publication belongs solely to the broadcaster. Any unauthorized distribution of the song or any of its parts — whether recorded in the voice of the singer Noam Bettan or not — will constitute a serious and severe violation of the broadcaster’s rights”.
The broadcaster emphasized that this is not only a violation of copyright law but also a real risk to Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026.
Within KAN 11, officials clarified that releasing the song before receiving formal approval from the EBU could cause significant damage:
“Publishing the song prior to its official authorization by the EBU could cause irreparable harm to the broadcaster’s relations with the union, including the imposition of sanctions”.
The broadcaster also noted that if, despite the warning, the song or any part of it is published, it reserves the right to take all necessary legal action to protect its rights.
The Song by Noam Bettan: Selected, But Still a Secret!
Last Friday, the broadcaster’s professional committee convened and chose the song with which Noam Bettan will represent Israel at Eurovision 2026, taking place this May in Vienna, Austria.
The song was written by Nadav Aharoni, Tslil Klifi and Yuval Raphael – who represented Israel at Eurovision 2025, as members of Survivor of the Nova Party, placing second and achieving one of Israel’s strongest Eurovision results in recent years.
According to official data, the song was chosen from around 200 submissions and will be performed in three languages: Hebrew, English, and French. The broadcaster revealed that, after two consecutive years of ballads, this year’s entry will adopt a somewhat different style – but all further details remain secret.
Suspicion of Leakage and Attempted Sale
The unusual letter stems from suspicions of an attempted sale of the song, or parts of it, allegedly before its official release or EBU approval. At this stage, no information has been released regarding those involved, but the broadcaster views the incident as a real threat to Israel’s participation in the contest.
KAN 11 emphasized: As of now, the Israeli entry for Eurovision 2026 has not been released, and any recording circulating online or offered to others is considered unauthorized.
How Israel’s Eurovision selection committee worked
Around three weeks ago, the final of “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision” took place, where Noam Bettan won and was chosen to represent Israel at Eurovision 2026, to be held this May in Vienna, Austria.
In parallel to the TV season, the national broadcaster opened a submissions window for songs from December 21st to January 26th. The broadcaster stressed that songs could be submitted in any language, but must include at least a few lines in Hebrew – a requirement that remains in place this year.
The selection committee was chaired by Barak Itzkovich, head of KAN’s music stations. It included senior music editors from the broadcaster, leading professionals from Israel’s music and television industries, and a public representative. Committee members listened to all submitted songs without knowing the identities of their writers, a procedure designed to prevent bias and ensure a strictly professional choice.
The song will be unveiled in a special presentation show on KAN 11 on March 5th.
Israel in Eurovision 2026
Noam Bettan was chosen to represent Israel after winning the 12th season of “HaKokhav HaBa”. The song he will perform at Eurovision 2026 will be decided by a joint internal committee of the national broadcaster and Keshet 12. It will be unveiled in early March. Currently, Israel ranks first in the Eurovision betting charts.
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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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.
