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Noam Bettan to Represent Israel at Eurovision 2026

1/21/2026

29 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Noam Bettan, Israel's representative, was selected to compete in Eurovision Song Contest 2026, announced during The Next Star finale.
He pledged to honor his country after defeating three finalists.
The contest will take place in Vienna, with Israel performing in the first semifinal on May 12, 2026.
Israel must now select a song, under new rules that exclude last year's songwriter Keren Peles from this year's competition.

History

Historical Context

The Eurovision Song Contest began in 1956 in Lugano, Switzerland, inspired by the Sanremo Music Festival. Switzerland won the inaugural event with "Refrain," performed by Lys Assia. Israel joined in 1973, winning four times, including in 1978 with "A-Ba-Ni-Bi." Noam Bettan's selection for the 2026 contest highlights Israel's commitment to cultural representation, reflecting the contest's evolving nature and significance in national identity.

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Story summary

Noam Bettan, Israel's representative, was selected to compete in Eurovision Song Contest 2026, announced during The Next Star finale.
He pledged to honor his country after defeating three finalists.
The contest will take place in Vienna, with Israel performing in the first semifinal on May 12, 2026.
Israel must now select a song, under new rules that exclude last year's songwriter Keren Peles from this year's competition.

1 / 2