Betting tables for Eurovision 2026 are flipping: Israel loses first place as Finland surges to the top. The battle at the summit turns into a tight battle, and the odds are reshuffled.
In recent moments, the betting tables for Eurovision 2026 have been updated – and for the first time since they opened, Israel loses first place. Finland jumps to the top with 11% winning chances, identical to Israel’s, but is ranked first according to the average of the sites. Noam Bettan drops to second place – and the battle at the top of Eurovision 2026 becomes tight and dramatic, even though neither country has yet selected its song.
According to data from the main betting sites in Europe, this is a dramatic change in the existing situation: Israel has consistently led since the tables opened last month, but now Finland is ranked first, even though it has not yet selected an official representative or song for Eurovision 2026.
The gap between the countries is particularly small: both Finland and Israel stand at 11% winning chances, but in the internal weighting of the betting agencies, Finland receives preference and is ranked first.
Finland’s Leap Despite Not Choosing an Entry
Finland’s rise comes despite the fact that the country has not yet officially announced its representative for Eurovision. However, the song “Liekinheitin”, by Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen, which is competing in “UMK 2026”, has generated unusually intense media buzz since it was revealed.
The Finnish national briadcaster YLE, reported that the song is leading public discourse and is defined as a prominent contender to win the national selection. A figure in the music industry in Helsinki told YLE:
“The reaction to the song is unprecedented. It is generating international discourse, not just local”.
Finland’s surge in the Eurovision 2026 betting tables is occurring in parallel with a sharp increase in the volume of bets placed on the country in the past 24 hours, according to data from betting platforms operating in the United Kingdom and across Europe.
Israel at Eurovision 2026: Noam Bettan is Currently Second
Currently, Israel is experiencing its first decline since the start of the betting season. Noam Bettan, who until now has led the tables, now stands in second place with 11% winning chances. In Israel’s case as well, the song has not yet been revealed to the public. Despite this, Noam Bettan enjoys broad media exposure and high expectations among Eurovision fan communities across Europe – although much of the exposure is actually negative coverage.
The betting tables are considered each year to be an initial indicator of expectations ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest. While they are not an official result, over the years there has been a strong correlation between a high position in the odds and success in the final.
Now, Finland takes first place, Noam Bettan is pushed to second by a small margin – and the drama at the summit only intensifies, and every vote counts.
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.
