Israel Leads the Betting Odds for Eurovision 2026 Even Before Any Songs Are Selected

Israel Leads the Betting Odds for Eurovision 2026 Even Before Any Songs Are Selected

by Neta Geffen Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Despite growing calls for a boycott, early betting odds place Israel as the leading contender to win Eurovision 2026 in Vienna - before any song has been chosen. With the release of the first betting odds for Eurovision 2026, scheduled for May in Vienna, excitement surrounding the 70th edition of the contest is already rapidly building. The international betting platform Betfair published its initial odds, placing Israel as the frontrunner for victory. This ranking comes shortly after Israel’s participation was officially confirmed during the EBU General Assembly and amid the country’s consistently strong performance in the televote in recent years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Israel on Top – Who Follows? Alongside Israel, ranked first, Sweden holds second place, consistent with its longstanding reputation as one of the most successful countries in Eurovision history. Finland, benefiting from a significant renewal in its national selection process, sits in third. Ukraine, which almost every year enjoys substantial...
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Israel at Eurovision: Noa Kirel Criticizes the Withdrawn Countries – “Ignoring Reality”

Israel at Eurovision: Noa Kirel Criticizes the Withdrawn Countries – “Ignoring Reality”

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Noa Kirel opens up in an interview about the criticism directed at Israel, the withdrawal of five countries from Eurovision in protest of Israel’s participation, and various other hot topics related to the contest. Noa Kirel, Israel’s 2023 Eurovision representative with the song “Unicorn” — which earned third place — gave an emotional interview to the British national broadcaster BBC television program “The World Tonight”. Speaking openly, she reflected on the major changes in Eurovision since her performance, particularly in light of the ongoing Israel–Gaza conflict and the shifting attitudes toward Israeli participants over the past two years. Kirel highlighted the importance of Israel’s confirmed participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place in Vienna, Austria. She also commented on the decision by Iceland, Spain, The Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to withdraw from the contest in protest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Kirel expressed her deep disappointment at the decision of the five countries to boycott Eurovision, citing accusations...
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Nemo Against Israel’s Participation: “I’m Returning the Trophy to the EBU”

Nemo Against Israel’s Participation: “I’m Returning the Trophy to the EBU”

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo Mettler announces they are returning their trophy, protesting Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026. A week after the historic conference held by the EBU in Switzerland - approving Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 - the controversy continues to escalate. Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo Mettler posted a statement on Instagram today (Thursday), declaring that they will return the trophy awarded for their victory. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “I’ve decided to send the trophy back” "Last year I won Eurovision, and with it came the trophy, [...] Although I’m immensely grateful for the community around this competition and everything this experience has taught me - both as a person and an artist - today I no longer feel that this trophy belongs on my shelf. Eurovision claims to stand for unity, inclusion, and respect for everyone. These values are what made the contest meaningful for us. Yet Israel’s participation - while, according to the UN Independent...
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70% of Britons: Boycott Eurovision Because of Israel’s Participation!

70% of Britons: Boycott Eurovision Because of Israel’s Participation!

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 82% of Britons say Israel should be disqualified from Eurovision 2026 after the EBU ruled it may participate. What do party leaders in the United Kingdom think? A survey conducted in Britain found that seven out of every ten people in the United Kingdom support boycotting Eurovision 2026 because of Israel’s participation. The EBU convened a committee on Thursday, December 4th, 2025, at which it was decided that Israel will continue to participate in the contest. Countries such as Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and The Netherlands – and yesterday, December 10th,  2025, also Iceland – announced that they will boycott the contest after calling for Israel to be disqualified because of the military operation in Gaza, and even accused Israel of using unfair voting methods at Eurovision 2025. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 70% of Britons support boycotting Eurovision 2026 because of Israel’s participation, according to a survey conducted in the country. The EBU ruled last...
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Portugal: Eurovision 2026 Participation Confirmed Despite Boycott

Portugal: Eurovision 2026 Participation Confirmed Despite Boycott

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Portugal's RTP confirms Eurovision 2026 participation despite a massive artist boycott at Festival da Canção. Learn the latest on the controversial selection  Portugal's national broadcaster, RTP, confirmed participation in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria, despite a protest from 11 of the 16 national pre-selection artists. The national broadcaster's statement is as follows: “Regardless of the decision of the artists who signed the declaration, the contents of which we understand, RTP will once again organize Festival da Canção and confirms its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, along with the overwhelming majority of EBU member countries”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The statement from the national broadcaster, RTP, comes in the wake of a declaration signed by 11 of the national pre-selection participants. “Silence Makes Us Complicit in Tragedy” The declaration reads: “Collectively, in a coordinated position among current and future creators and performers, we declare our refusal to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should the song of one of us win...
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Artists’ Revolt in Festival da Canção: “We Won’t Represent Portugal Because of Israel”

Artists’ Revolt in Festival da Canção: “We Won’t Represent Portugal Because of Israel”

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); An unprecedented number of contestants in "Festival da Canção" declare they will refuse to represent the country if they win, protesting Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026. During the past weekend, Portugal’s national broadcaster RTP announced that it had voted in favor of the new contest regulations and supported Israel’s participation during the General Assembly of the EBU. The broadcaster has since faced internal backlash from its employees over this decision. Now, 11 out of 16 songwriters participating in the Portuguese Eurovision preselection “Festival da Canção 2026” have jointly declared that they will refuse to represent Portugal at Eurovision following the decision that Israel will take part in Eurovision 2026. This stance was made possible by a newly added clause in the festival’s regulations stipulating that the local winner is not obligated to represent Portugal at Eurovision - a contrast to previous years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In their joint statement, the eleven participating artists expressed unusually strong criticism of Israel, saying...
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HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 14: Four Contestants Advance to the Next Round

HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 14: Four Contestants Advance to the Next Round

by Tal Dahan Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "HaKokhav HaBa" - Episode 14: Last four contestants passed to the next round. The advancing contestants are Noam Pinto, Odelia Baranes, Ziv Bossidan and Omri Fils. Tonight, the fourteenth episode of the reality show “HaKokhav HaBa" aired, through which Israel’s representative for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen. So far, 64 contestants have secured their place in the competition, and This was the final audition episode of the season. During tonight’s episode, four additional contestants advanced to the next stage thanks to the votes of the judges and the studio audience – One of them might go on to represent Israel in Eurovision this coming May. On Friday, the intimate audition phase will begin, after which 21 contestants will be chosen to form the main lineup. The panel once again included Assaf Amdursky, Keren Peles, Shiri Maimon, Eden Hasson, and Itay Levi. Joining them this time were Netta Barzilai, who won Eurovision 2018 with the song "Toy", and Dana International, who won Eurovision 1998 with the song "Diva". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle ||...
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HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 13: Five Contestants Advance to the Next Round

HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 13: Five Contestants Advance to the Next Round

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "HaKokhav HaBa" - Episode 13: Five contestants passed to the next round. The advancing contestants are Maya Rose, Harel Mauda, Elimelech Talaleh, Ofek Cohen, and Yaron As. Tonight, the thirteenth episode of the reality show “HaKokhav HaBa" aired, through which Israel’s representative for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen. So far, 59 contestants have secured their place in the competition, and during tonight’s episode, four additional contestants advanced to the next stage thanks to the votes of the judges and the studio audience – One of them might go on to represent Israel in Eurovision this coming May. The auditions will conclude this coming Tuesday. The panel once again included Assaf Amdursky, Keren Peles, Shiri Maimon, Eden Hasson, and Itay Levi. Joining them this time were Netta Barzilai, who won Eurovision 2018 with the song "Toy", and Dana International, who won Eurovision 1998 with the song "Diva". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Elad Shahar Elad Shahar, 25 years old from Tel Aviv. His mother shared that she always knew he would become a singer....
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“It was absolutely crazy”: Inside the debate over Israel’s Eurovision participation

“It was absolutely crazy”: Inside the debate over Israel’s Eurovision participation

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); During a tense Geneva conference, lawyer Ayala Mizrahi from national broadcaster Kan revealed details of the debate  On Thursday, a pivotal discussion regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 took place, followed by a vote on the new regulations of the EBU. Representing Israel were the national broadcaster’s CEO Golan Yochpaz and Deputy CEO for Regulation, lawyer Ayala Mizrahi. They presented Israel’s position – which was ultimately accepted – before delegates from 68 member states at the General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting concluded with a decision approving Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Tense atmosphere at the EBU General Assembly In an interview for the program “Kalman Lieberman” on Kan News, Mizrahi described the atmosphere she experienced as Israel’s representative facing delegates from countries leading the call to exclude Israel from the contest. “It was absolutely crazy”, Mizrahi recalled. “We arrived a day earlier, even though we’d been in contact with...
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HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 12: Five Contestants Advance to the Next Round

HaKokhav HaBa – Episode 12: Five Contestants Advance to the Next Round

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "HaKokhav HaBa" - Episode 12: Five contestants passed to the next round. The advancing contestants are Nathan Ben Shimon, Sandy Deri, Eden Hen, Nuriel Yashar, and Rotem Sharabi. Tonight, the twelfth episode of the reality show “HaKokhav HaBa" aired, through which Israel’s representative for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen. So far, 54 contestants have secured their place in the competition, and during tonight’s episode, four additional contestants advanced to the next stage thanks to the votes of the judges and the studio audience – One of them might go on to represent Israel in Eurovision this coming May. The auditions will conclude this coming Tuesday. The panel once again included Assaf Amdursky, Keren Peles, Shiri Maimon, Eden Hasson, and Itay Levi. Joining them this time were Netta Barzilai, who won Eurovision 2018 with the song "Toy", and Dana International, who won Eurovision 1998 with the song "Diva", alongside her agent Shai Kerem. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Nathan Ben Shimon Nathan Ben Shimon, 20 years old from Ra’anana. He previously...
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