Eurovision Song Contest

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.

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.
 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.

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

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.

Eurovision host says it won't ban Palestinian flags, drown out boos during Israel's performance

Nemo, representing Switzerland, performs "The Code" during the Grand Final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, in Malmo, Sweden, May 11, 2024.

Swiss Eurovision winner Nemo announces they are returning their trophy in protest against Israel


Nova festival survivor Yuval Raphael gears up to represent Israel at Eurovision

Many Eurovision fans bet money on the outcome, and bookmakers around the world currently rank Raphael fifth to win, out of 37 competitors.

  Yuval Raphael is representing Israel this year at Basel in the Eurovision song contest

Yuval Raphael shines at her second Eurovision rehearsal

The grand final will air on May 17 at 22:00 on Kan 11, online, on digital platforms, and Kan BOX.

 Yuval Rafael at her second Eurovision rehearsal in Basel, May 9, 2025.

Russian shelling destroys home of Ukraine’s Eurovision contestant

The singer was in Sweden at the time of the Russian attack, practising for her performance with the band Ziferblat.

Khrystyna Starykova.

'I was scared I'd be shot on stage,' Eden Golan speaks on her fear at Eurovision

Eden Golan recalls the fear before flying to Eurovision, the boos she received and the disgusting behavior of some singers behind the scenes.

 ISRAEL’S CONTESTANT Eden Golan sings in the Grand Final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, last week.

NSC warns Israelis travelling to Eurovision to conceal Jewish, Israeli symbols

The NSC's directives come two days after 70 former Eurovision participants penned an open letter demanding Israel not be allowed to take part.

 Yuval Raphael at Eurovision rehearsals in Basel, Switzerland, May 7, 2025.

Over 70 former Eurovision contestants call for Israel ban as Yuval Raphael has first rehearsal

The letter posted by the former participants contends that “Kan is complicit in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza."

 Yuval Raphael at Eurovision rehearsals in Basel, Switzerland, May 7, 2025.

'Being there is already a victory': Yuval Raphael meets Herzog ahead of Eurovision

"Your story is incredible, and every time I hear the song, my heart swells with pride," Herzog said

 Israel's representative to the Eurovision Song Contest Yuval Raphael meets with President Isaac Herzog. May 5, 2025.

Independence Day 2025: 77+1 reasons I love Israel - opinion

Ahead of Israel's Independence Day, Barbara Sofer presents her annual list of things she loves about the Jewish state.

 Israel's representative to the Eurovision Song Contest, Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the deadly October 7 2023 attack by Hamas on the Nova festival in Israel's south, sings on a stage in this handout photo obtained by Reuters on January 23, 2025.

October 7 survivors to accompany Yuval Raphael to Eurovision

The teams accompanying Raphael are afraid to reveal their names for safety and security reasons

 Yuval Raphael is the winner of the Rising star 2025 finale and will represent Israel in the Eurovision.

Eurovision audience to be permitted to wave Palestinian flags this ceremony

Singers participating, however, are only allowed to display the flag of their country on stage and are prohibited from displaying pride flags or flags of other countries at all official events.

 Israel's representative to the Eurovision Song Contest, Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the deadly October 7 2023 attack by Hamas on the Nova festival in Israel's south, sings on a stage in this handout photo obtained by Reuters on January 23, 2025.