Eurovision Song Contest

Netherlands to return to Eurovision 2027 after boycotting Israel’s participation

Dutch broadcaster NPO confirmed the Netherlands will compete in Eurovision 2027 after AVROTROS withdrew from the 2026 contest over Israel’s participation.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Pro-Palestinian protestors hold a flag and a banner outside the RTE (Radio Telefis Eireann) Irish public service broadcaster television studios as demonstrators call for an Irish boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if there is Israeli participation, in Dublin, Ireland, November 1, 2025.
A man holds Irish and Palestinian flags as people protest calling for governments around the world to stop arming Israel during a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Dublin, Ireland, June 15, 2024

Ireland will not participate in 2027 Eurovision, broadcaster announces, citing situation in Gaza

RTÉ also stated that it remains "deeply concerned by the continued denial of independent access to international journalists to the territory."

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A general view during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest at Wiener Stadthalle on May 16, 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

Dutch public broadcaster pulls out of 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, citing Gaza war

According to AVROTROS Director-General Taco Zimmerman, "It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character."

|ByTZVI JASPER
A panoramic aerial view of Burgas, the fourth-largest city in Bulgaria.

Eurovision heads to Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast as Burgas confirmed 2027 host city

Israel is set to participate in the event, after the Eurovision Song Contest director affirmed there would be no further votes on whether to exclude the Jewish state from the competition.

|ByHANNAH BROWN, REUTERS

Danish Eurovision contestant addresses pro-Israel Instagram story backlash

Some countries participating in Eurovision have called for Israel's exclusion from the competition due to the war against Hamas in Gaza, but the EBU declined to put the matter to a vote.

MARCH 29, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Moderator Austrian singer Cesar Sampson holds a draw for Denmark during the draw session for the two semi-final events of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on stage at the Vienna's city hall in Vienna, Austria, on January 12, 2026.

Eurovision Song Contest oddsmakers predict Israel will win televoting again this year

The Eurovision World website presented the oddsmakers who predict the televoting results separately from the overall results, and according to them, Israel has a 26% chance of topping the televoting.

MARCH 26, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
People cheer as they watch the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest finals being screened at a community center in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 17, 2025.

WATCH: 'Michelle,' Israel’s Eurovision song, revealed in a performance by Noam Bettan

The song includes lyrics in Hebrew, French, and English. The lyrics were written by Nadav Aharoni, Tzlil Kalifi, and Yuval Raphael. Aharoni and Kalifi composed the music, and Aharoni is the producer.

MARCH 5, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Noam Bettan, winner of the reality show "The Next Star" poses for a picture after winning the final in Neve Ilan, near Jerusalem, January 21, 2026.

Israel announces title of 2026 Eurovision song contest entry: 'Michelle'

"Michelle" will be revealed in full for the first time in a festive broadcast on KAN 11 on March 5.

FEBRUARY 24, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Noam Bettan will represent Israel at Eurovision 2026.

Swiss Eurovision winner's trophy shattered while returning to EBU in protest of Israel

Nemo suffered a hand injury shortly after receiving the trophy in 2024 when the notoriously fragile glass trophy broke for the first time.

FEBRUARY 22, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Nemo representing Switzerland celebrates after winning during the Grand Final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, in Malmo, Sweden, May 12, 2024.

EBU approves Israel's 2026 Eurovision song after undergoing minor adjustments

Each song undergoes a review process, and EBU officials requested a few minor adjustments for Israel's entry, which the Israeli songwriters agreed to.

FEBRUARY 18, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Noam Bettan will represent Israel at Eurovision 2026.

Former Eurovision contestant Yuval Raphael co-writes song selected for this year's submission

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN announced Friday that the song, which was written by Raphael with Nadav Aharoni and Tzlil Klipi, was selected on Friday by its professional committee.

FEBRUARY 6, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, performs "New Day Will Rise", during the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025.

Italian broadcast reps. urge inclusion of Palestine in Eurovision 

Only countries with a public broadcaster that is a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) participate in Eurovision, and Palestine does not have a public broadcaster.

JANUARY 26, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Eurovision 2026 logo

Israel will take part in the first Eurovision semifinal, EBU announces

This year’s Eurovision contest will take place in Austria in May, with the semifinals set for May 12 and May 14 and the finals on May 16.

JANUARY 13, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
ISRAEL HAS been singled out as no country ever has been before at Eurovision. Here, viewers cheer as they watch this year’s Eurovision Song Contest finals being screened at a community center in Tel Aviv, in May.

Boycotts and rule changes don’t stop Israel topping Eurovision odds

Israel leads Eurovisionworld.com’s early odds with 10%, followed by Sweden 9%, Ukraine 7%, Finland 6%, and Italy 5%.

JANUARY 4, 2026ByHANNAH BROWN
Pro-Palestinian protestors hold a flag and a banner outside the RTE (Radio Telefis Eireann) Irish public service broadcaster television studios as demonstrators call for an Irish boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if there is Israeli participation, in Dublin, Ireland, November 1, 2025.