Official: Israel’s Eurovision 2026 Representative to Be Chosen via “HaKokhav HaBa”!

Official: Israel’s Eurovision 2026 Representative to Be Chosen via “HaKokhav HaBa”!

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});   After Yuval Raphael’s success at Eurovision 2025, KAN 11 and Keshet 12 will continue their collaboration to select Israel’s representative for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria through “HaKokhav HaBa LaEurovision”. Now it’s official: Although Israel’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision remains uncertain following threats by some countries to withdraw if Israel competes, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation and Keshet have agreed to extend their collaboration ahead of Eurovision 2026. The agreement guarantees the continuation of the popular show “HaKokhav HaBa LaEurovision”, which will select Israel’s representative for the competition in Vienna, Austria. Filming is expected to begin at the end of October, with the season scheduled to air in mid-November. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Continued Success The decision to continue this partnership for the ninth consecutive year comes in light of the remarkable achievement of Yuval Raphael, Israel’s Eurovision 2025 representative, who finished in second place with her song “New Day Will Rise”. Raphael, chosen through the previous...
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“Three Decades of Spreading Light”: Dana International Honored at TLVFest 2025 with Special Award

“Three Decades of Spreading Light”: Dana International Honored at TLVFest 2025 with Special Award

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});   Eurovision star Dana International to receive honorary award at TLVFest 2025 for three decades of cultural impact and LGBTQ+ visibility Dana International, winner of Eurovision 1998 and one of the most influential figures in Israeli music and LGBTQ+ culture, will receive this year a special honorary award at the 20th edition of the TLVFest LGBTQ+ Film Festival. The festival will open on October 23rd at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and take place across Tel Aviv-Jaffa and Haifa until November 2nd. Groundbreaking Career The festival’s steering committee explained that the award is being presented to Dana for three decades of musical and cultural contributions, as well as for being a pioneering voice for LGBTQ+ visibility in Israel and worldwide. Dana began her career in the late 1980s performing drag shows at gay clubs, long before this culture was widely recognized. In 1992, she broke through with the single “Sa’ida Sultana", which led to a successful debut album and her second, “Umpatampa"....
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Austria’s ORF CEO: Full Support for Israel’s Participation in Eurovision

Austria’s ORF CEO: Full Support for Israel’s Participation in Eurovision

by Noy Yehoyada Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Austria, the host country of Eurovision 2026, declares strong support for Israel against boycott threats, ahead of November’s decisive vote. The diplomatic battle over Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 has taken a dramatic turn with an unprecedented statement from one of the key stakeholders: the host country. In an interview with the local press, Roland Weißmann, CEO of Austrian broadcaster ORF, put an end to speculation and made it unequivocally clear that the national broadcaster fully supports the participation of Israel’s broadcaster "KAN" in the contest, which will be held in Vienna. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "Support Arises from Austria’s History" In an interview with Austrian newspaper Krone, when asked directly about growing boycott threats from other countries and broadcasters (such as the BBC), Weißmann did not hesitate. He revealed that his stance has been presented for months in various European Broadcasting Union (EBU) forums, and declared without reservation: “As I have represented in the EBU for months, and...
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He’s Back: Cesár Sampson Will Help Select Austria’s Entry for Eurovision 2026

He’s Back: Cesár Sampson Will Help Select Austria’s Entry for Eurovision 2026

by Neta Geffen Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Cesár Sampson joins the team selecting participants for the 2026 Austrian national selection. what kind of songs is he looking for? Austria is preparing to host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna: the Austrian national broadcaster ORF will hold, for the first time in a decade, an open national final to determine the country’s entry for the contest. The broadcaster has enlisted Cesár Sampson to assist with the complex mission of finding participants for “Vienna Calling – Wer singt für Österreich” (in English: Vienna Calling – Who Will Sing for Austria?), from which one act will earn the honor of representing Austria on home soil in Vienna. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Cesár Sampson Will Choose Austria’s National Selection Participants Cesár Sampson, who represented Austria in Eurovision 2018 and secured third place with "Nobody But You", revealed in an interview with Austrian station Ö3 that he will help select the songs competing for the right to represent...
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Is Spain Spreading Lies to Eliminate Israel from Eurovision? Portugal Strikes Back

Is Spain Spreading Lies to Eliminate Israel from Eurovision? Portugal Strikes Back

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2026 unfolds as a political drama: Portugal challenges Spain amid a media storm centered on Israel’s contested participation. Over the past two days, European news outlets have been abuzz with one question: will Portugal join the wave of countries threatening to boycott Eurovision 2026 if Israel remains in the contest? Today, Portugal provided a clear answer. But why did the suggestion of Israel’s expulsion spark friction between the Portuguese and Spanish national broadcasters, with Portugal dismissing Spain’s report as lies? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Yesterday, Spanish national broadcaster RTVE reported that Portugal was considering joining a boycott of Eurovision 2026 if Israel is allowed to remain in the competition. According to the report, Spain had already made clear it will withdraw for certain if Israel participates - joining other nations like Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia. RTVE also hinted that Belgium might adopt a similar line, although this has not been officially declared. The claim was broadcast at...
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A Ray of Light: Sweden Will Not Boycott Eurovision Even if Israel Participates

A Ray of Light: Sweden Will Not Boycott Eurovision Even if Israel Participates

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Yesterday it was announced that the EBU decided to move forward the vote on Israel's participation in Eurovision 2026 to November. At the same time, did Sweden expressed support for Israel's inclusion? In days when the future of Israel’s participation in Eurovision remains uncertain, every international statement becomes either a wave of hope or fear. Yesterday, it was announced that the EBU decided to move up the general assembly that will determine whether Israel will remain part of Europe’s biggest stage – Eurovision 2026, set to take place in Vienna, Austria. While many Israeli fans wonder whether this will be the year the country competes or is excluded from the historic contest, Sweden – one of the nations most closely identified with Eurovision culture – made a significant declaration: it will not boycott the competition, even if Israel remains in. Is this a hint at the atmosphere that awaits during the decisive assembly? Or just a temporary consolation for fans...
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Political Explosion at Eurovision: Did Spanish Pressure Lead to an Early Vote on Israel?

Political Explosion at Eurovision: Did Spanish Pressure Lead to an Early Vote on Israel?

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Spanish national broadcaster’s president criticized the EBU and Israel, sparking speculation that Spain’s budgetary and political pressure accelerated the vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 Just hours before the official announcement that the EBU would advance the vote on Israel’s potential exclusion from Eurovision 2026 from December to November, the president of the Spanish national broadcaster RTVE, Jose Pablo Lopez Sanchez, lashed out at the handling of the crisis by the EBU. The question arises whether RTVE’s strong stance contributed to the sudden decision to accelerate the process. Did a clash occur between RTVE and the EBU, fueled also by budgetary concerns, with Spain’s central role in financing the major event influencing the timing of the vote? Appearing yesterday before the Spanish Parliament’s supervisory committee on public broadcasting, Lopez Sanchez openly criticized the EBU and Israel, stating: ""It was time to break the silence within the EBU regarding the genocide in Gaza. The damage that the...
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Fatal Step: The Vote on Israel’s Eurovision Participation Moved Forward to November

Fatal Step: The Vote on Israel’s Eurovision Participation Moved Forward to November

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The EBU announced that the vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision will take place in early November, focusing only on Eurovision 2026 participation, not on KAN’s EBU membership. In light of growing calls to exclude Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest, it was revealed today (Thursday) that the vote on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, set to take place in Vienna, Austria, has been moved forward to November. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In a letter signed by Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, President of the EBU, and sent to union members, it was stated that during an executive board meeting attended also by former Vice President Petr Dvořák, the current positions of member states regarding the Israeli national broadcaster “KAN” were presented. The EBU emphasized that there exists “an unprecedented range of opinions” on the matter, which has prevented consensus from being reached. It was further highlighted that the organization upholds freedom of expression and open cultural dialogue. Therefore, a...
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Eurovision Legend Confesses: “I Was Ill-Prepared for Winning Eurovision 1993”

Eurovision Legend Confesses: “I Was Ill-Prepared for Winning Eurovision 1993”

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Niamh Kavanagh reflects on her 1993 Eurovision victory, her struggle with sudden fame, and her husband’s near-death ordeal that reshaped her personal journey. Niamh Kavanagh, the Irish singer who gave Ireland one of its most emotional Eurovision victories in 1993, looks back three decades later and candidly admits how unprepared she was for the overwhelming fame that followed. How does one cope when the leap from an anonymous “hired voice” to a celebrated artist happens overnight? And what transpires when a musical journey intertwines with profound personal challenges? A Dublin Girl Who Conquered the World Kavanagh was born and raised in Glasnevin, Dublin, yet her life journey stretched far beyond her home city. On the popular Irish program "Keys To My Life", broadcast by the national broadcaster RTÉ, personal behind-the-scenes stories of guests are unveiled. The show’s host, Brendan Courtney, visited Kavanagh in her Carrickfergus, Antrim, home, where she lives with her husband Paul and their sons Jack and...
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Eurovision in Crisis: Polish media and fans urge TVP to Withdraw Over Israel’s Participation

Eurovision in Crisis: Polish media and fans urge TVP to Withdraw Over Israel’s Participation

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); OGAE Poland and media outlets back the national broadcaster, pledging support if it withdraws from Eurovision 2026 due to Israel’s contested participation. Will the pressure succeed? OGAE Poland, alongside a range of media outlets covering the competition, including Eurowizja.org, Dobry Wieczór Europo, Dziennik Eurowizyjny, Eurovibes, Let’s Talk About ESC, Miechulec, and Misja Eurowizja, sent a letter to Tomasz Sygut, director of the Polish national broadcaster TVP. They pledged their backing should TVP decide to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 over Israel’s participation. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Mysterious Figure and the Critical Decision According to journalist Ran Boker from Ynet, a supervisor has been appointed, whose identity has not been revealed. He began several weeks ago with a round of meetings with directors of European national broadcasters. However, he has not yet made contact with the Israeli broadcaster KAN. In Israel, some cautiously assess that the fact he does not come from a hostile country may be...
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