“Every Arena Is Important”: President Herzog Responds to Calls to Exclude Israel from Eurovision

“Every Arena Is Important”: President Herzog Responds to Calls to Exclude Israel from Eurovision

by Neta Geffen Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});   Amid European boycott threats, Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed delegitimization efforts against Israel at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna and emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong and independent public broadcaster. Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke in an interview on the radio program “Kalman Liberman” on Kan Reshet Bet about the importance of public broadcasting and Israel’s future at Eurovision. His remarks come against the backdrop of calls to exclude Israel from Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. Eurovision: More Than Just a Musical Stage Regarding the wave of calls to boycott Israel at Eurovision, Herzog said: “I have seen dangerous processes that start at Eurovision and end elsewhere. The delegitimization of Israel and attempts to exclude us from every possible arena - these are moves intended to weaken us. It starts with Eurovision but extends to things that are vital to us. Every arena is important”. He noted in the interview that the public broadcaster KAN is doing its utmost to keep Israel...
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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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The United Kingdom Already Preparing: Eurovision 2026 Party to Be Held on April 19th

The United Kingdom Already Preparing: Eurovision 2026 Party to Be Held on April 19th

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); New updates from the United Kingdom on the traditional London party. The 17th edition is expected to return, joining the lineup of promotional events leading into Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. You can already mark your calendars: the London Eurovision Party will return this year as an integral part of the promotional events that accompany the contest each spring. This will be the 17th edition of the party, which over time has become a central landmark of the Eurovision season. As always, it is expected to bring together artists, songs, and fans under one roof, just before official rehearsals begin for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna. The party will be held on Sunday, April 19th, 2026. Further details on the exact venue and ticket sales will be revealed soon. Last year, the event took place at HERE at Outernet in London, where no fewer than 21 Eurovision 2025 participants performed. Among them was the band Remember Monday, who represented the United Kingdom,...
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Spain: Around 900 Songs Submitted for Benidorm Fest 2026!

Spain: Around 900 Songs Submitted for Benidorm Fest 2026!

by Maor Heumann Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 870 songs were submitted to RTVE for Benidorm Fest 2026, which will take place on February 14th RTVE closed on Wednesday the submission window for entries to Benidorm Fest 2026, the Spanish Eurovision pre-selection. According to the national broadcaster, around 900 songs were received, nearly 350 of them within the final 24 hours. This marks a lower number compared to last year, when approximately 1,000 songs were submitted, but still higher than the 825 entries received in 2024. Rising Popularity and Audience Success The overwhelming success of Benidorm Fest 2025 has clearly influenced the interest in the next edition. The number of submissions for Benidorm Fest 2026 remains impressively high due to the competition’s rapidly growing public appeal. The 2025 final, which topped television ratings throughout the week, was a massive success with a 17.1% viewing share and around 1,938,000 viewers. That made it the second most-watched edition in the festival’s history. At peak broadcast moments, nearly 5 million people...
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United Kingdom: 82% of The Citizens Want Israel Out of Eurovision 2026

United Kingdom: 82% of The Citizens Want Israel Out of Eurovision 2026

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Although it is not yet clear how the British national broadcaster BBC will vote in November on Israel’s participation in Eurovision, a new poll claims: most citizens want Israel expelled from the contest. In a newly published poll conducted in the United Kingdom, the public was asked: should Israel be expelled from Eurovision 2026? This comes despite the fact that the British national broadcaster, the BBC, has not yet taken a definitive position on the matter. According to the results, a significant majority opposes Israel’s continued participation. A total of 1,093 respondents - including casual viewers and Eurovision fans - were surveyed. They were also asked to compare Israel’s situation to the exclusion of Russia in 2022. The findings are presented below. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "Expelling Russia, But Not Israel Was Inconsistent" The press release issued by the polling institute Find Out Now stated: “A dramatic poll has found that an overwhelming majority of the British...
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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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Slovenia Escalates: If Israel Participates In Eurovision 2026 – We’re Out

Slovenia Escalates: If Israel Participates In Eurovision 2026 – We’re Out

by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); With another furing declaration: Slovenia, which had already threatened to withdraw if Israel participates, has now officially turned it into a condition – if Israel is in, Slovenia is out. The Slovenian national broadcaster RTVSLO announced this morning (Saturday) that if Israel competes in Eurovision 2026, Slovenia will withdraw entirely. Led by director general Ksenija Horvat, the broadcaster has been one of the most prominent voices in Europe pushing anti-Israeli positions. In the past, its rhetoric has even bordered on antisemitism - an approach that resurfaces once again here. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Israel Conflicts with the Values of the Contest” As early as July, during a conference in London, representatives of the Slovenian national broadcaster declared: “If Israel participates in the Eurovision Song Contest – due to the genocide in Gaza’– Slovenia will not take part in the event”. The broadcaster’s official statement today has now made that position binding. This reflects the broadcaster’s consistent policy. Already back in 2024, its...
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