Based on our recent report, we learned that the EBU will organize a remote voting to decide if Israel is eligible to compete in Eurovision 2026. Amid the ongoing war between Israel and the terror organization Hamas, several national broadcasters have openly opposed Israel‘s participation in Eurovision 2026.
Some of those broadcasters have even threatened to withdraw if Israel participates in Eurovision 2026. Among them, we could find: Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Iceland.
While it remains unknown whether Israel will participate in Eurovision 2026, the national broadcaster Kan has initial plans for the event.
Israeli national broadcaster Kan will collaborate with the commercial channel Keshet 12 for the 9th year on the Eurovision project.
As in the past (2015-2020, and 2023-2025), the Israeli artist for Eurovision will be selected via “Hakochav Haba La’Eurovision” (Eng: The Rising Star For Eurovision).
The Eurovision entry is likely to be selected internally.
Keshet 12 aims to start broadcasting the episodes around the end of October – Middle of November, with the selection of the artist by February 2026.
Kan announced:
The Israeli representative for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna will be chosen as part of Keshet 12’s “The Next Star for Eurovision” program. We have collaborated with Keshet in the past for 9 seasons, in all of which Israel managed to qualify for the Eurovision final and even bring the competition home.
Over the years, Israel has achieved notable scores in Eurovision, while selecting the artist via “The Rising Star”:
- 9 out of 9 appearances in the grand final.
- Top 10 in 2015, 2018, 2024, and 2025
- Top 5 in 2018, 2024, and 2025
- Winning the contest (in 2018)
Yuval Raphael represented Israel in Eurovision 2025
She performed “New Day Will Rise” and ended in 2nd place.
Eurovision 2026 will be held in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026.
