Israel was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 by the song "Michelle", written by , Noam Bettan, , and Yuval Raphael, and performed by Bettan himself. The Israeli participating broadcaster, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/), selected Bettan as its representative through the show , in collaboration with commercial broadcaster Keshet and , while the song "Michelle" was chosen internally. As with the previous two years, Israel's participation was the subject of controversy due to the Gaza war.
Israel was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 12 May 2026. Performing during the show in position 10, Israel was announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final on 16 May. It was later revealed that Israel placed first out of the 15 participating countries in the semi-final with 269 points. In the final, Israel performed in position 3 and placed second out of the 25 participating countries, scoring 343 points.
Background
Prior to the 2026 contest, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) until 2017, and the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/) since 2018, had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Israel forty-seven times since the IBA's first entry in . They had won the contest on four occasions: in with the song "" by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, in with the song "Hallelujah" by Milk and Honey, in with the song "" by Dana International, and in with the song "Toy" by Netta. Since the introduction of semi-finals in 2004, they had, to this point, managed to qualify to the final 14 times, achieving, besides its 2018 victory, six top ten results, most recently in with "New Day Will Rise" by Yuval Raphael placing second.
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, selects an entry to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. confirmed its intention to participate in the 2026 contest on 28 June 2025, announcing on 29 September that its representative would continue to be selected through the reality singing competition (Rising Star).
The Gaza war has made Israel's participation in the contest increasingly controversial, prompting calls for its exclusion and protests at the previous two editions. Broadcasters from , the , , and announced their intention to boycott the 2026 contest if Israel were allowed to compete. Following the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) general assembly meeting on 4 December 2025, which permitted Israel's participation, all four broadcasters proceeded with their boycott, joined by six days later.
Before Eurovision HaKokhav HaBa L'Eirovizion The artist who would represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 was selected through the reality singing competition (), produced by and Keshet Media Group, and broadcast on Keshet 12 as well as online via mako.co.il. The shows took place at the in Neve Ilan, and were hosted by Assi Azar and Rotem Sela. The judging panel for the competition composed of Assaf Amdursky, Keren Peles, Shiri Maimon (who represented ), Itay Levi, and Eden Hason. A rotating panel of several guest judges also joined, though they were only called upon to vote if a main judge was absent from a performance.
Auditions Candidates were required to get a score of at least 70% of the votes from the judges and the studio audience in order to advance.
+Audition 111 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Agam Hazan"Never Enough"94%Advanced2Uriah Cohen and Itamar Ohana""60%Eliminated3Tzahala Gazit""90%Advanced4Gilly Tsanaani"All I Want"93%Advanced5Daniel Shevtsov"Make You Feel My Love"88%Advanced6Alona Erez"At Last"96%Advanced +Audition 215 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Tair Adanek"If I Ain't Got You"94%Advanced2""90%Advanced3Shaked Solomon""90%Advanced4Shaya Avitan"Listen"92%Advanced5Moriel Harush""69%Eliminated6Noam Bettan""98%Advanced +Audition 316 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Elior Shemesh"Where Have You Been"82%Advanced2Ori Berko""90%Advanced3Odeya Esther Ben Amram"I See Red"46%Eliminated4Gal De Paz"A Change Is Gonna Come"91%Advanced5Avi Assor""79%Advanced6Dorin Or""83%Advanced +Audition 420 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Tamir Levy""94%Advanced2Dylan Morgan"Happier Than Ever"81%Advanced3Lior Kakon""96%Advanced4Shir Azaria"Young and Beautiful"42%Eliminated5Ori Aharon""94%Advanced6Eitan Aharon""92%Advanced +Audition 522 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Itay Evron"Let's Get It On"84%Advanced2Bar Nir"River"89%Advanced3Balcony Band""50%Eliminated 4David Ossona"Feeling Good"93%Advanced5Stav Vaknin""93%Advanced6""81%Advanced +Audition 623 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Mecy Kashty"I'm Not the Only One"86%Advanced2Achia Edri""96%Advanced3Mentamer Taganya"When We Were Young"89%Advanced 4Ron Bitton""58%Eliminated5Amy Lensson"You Don't Own Me"77%Advanced6Ido Maurer"Jealous"96%Advanced +Audition 725 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Mor Fadlon""78%Advanced2Daniel Azar""80%Advanced3Eliraz Zada"Sign of the Times"88%Advanced 4Aya Assaf"Tell Me Where the Light Goes"92%Advanced5Lihi Sade"Love on the Brain"67%Eliminated6Saar Hadar""77%Advanced +Audition 826 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Itamar Achiel""66%Saved2Gala Ohayon Katz"Summertime Sadness"82%Advanced3Yasmin Shimoni"Russian Roulette"92%Advanced4Asaf Pepel""53%Eliminated5Hela Gorelik"All I Ask"90%Advanced6Nave Levi""88%Advanced +Audition 929 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Daniella Lugassy""79%Advanced2Yehuda Ifrah""92%Advanced3Shirel Balaish"A Whole New World"45%Eliminated4Ben-Ad Korem"Lose Control"92%Advanced5Noam Azut""80%Advanced6Gali Givon"Toxic"72%Advanced +Audition 1030 November 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Oriel Haviv""92%Advanced2Lihi Butbul""74%Advanced3Noam Cohen"Rise Up"94%Advanced4Larry Fidler"Make You Feel My Love"44%Eliminated5Gon Halevi""74%Advanced6Nitay Avraham""72%Advanced +Audition 112 December 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Jenny Penkin"My All"71%Advanced2Anava Amoyal""93%Advanced3Harel Tayri""54%Eliminated4Shira Ittah"October Sky"93%Advanced5Yotam Olmer""67%Eliminated6Michael HarPaz"I'll Be Alright"74%Advanced +Audition 126 December 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Nathan Ben Shimon""82%Advanced2Sandy Deri"Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing"76%Advanced3Eden Hen""89%Advanced4Avraham Dahan""60%Eliminated5Nuriel Yashar"Shallow"78%Advanced6Rotem Sharabi""86%Advanced +Audition 137 December 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Elad Shahar ""62%Eliminated2Maya Rose"Listen"79%Advanced3Harel Mauda""79%Advanced4Elimelech Talaleh""83%Advanced5Ofek Cohen""70%Advanced6Yaron As""82%Advanced +Audition 149 December 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Noam Pinto""83%Advanced2Odelia Baranes""74%Advanced3Idan Ari"Mercy"58%Eliminated4Ziv Bossidan""85%Advanced5Avishag Atia"Wildflower"57%Eliminated6Omri Fils""70%Advanced
Shortlisting round The 68 candidates who advanced from the auditions each performed an "intimate" song, and the judges picked 21 to proceed. Those candidates were: Agam Hazan, Alona Erez, Daniel Azar, Daniel Shevtsov, Dorin Or, Eitan Aharon, Elior Shemesh, Gal De Paz, Gilly Tsanaani, Mentamer Taganya, Michael HarPaz, Nave Levi, Noam Bettan, Ori Berko, Portrait, Saar Hadar, Shaked Solomon, Shaya Avitan, Shira Zloof, Stav Vaknin, and Tamir Levy.
Top 21 round In the top 21 round, the votes of the judges and an audience determine one or two contestants to be eliminated from each show.
+Top 21 roundShow 113 December 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Agam Hazan"Baby"80%Advanced2Elior Shemesh"Supergirl"65%Advanced3Daniel Azar""80%Advanced4Portrait""84%Advanced5Gilly Tsanaani"Girls Just Want to Have Fun"79%Advanced6Saar Hadar""56%Eliminated7Alona Erez"Strange"72%Advanced +Top 21 roundShow 216 December 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Shira Zloof"Drivers License"79%Advanced2Shaked Solomon""76%Advanced3Gal De Paz"Cryin'"90%Advanced4Eitan Aharon""81%Advanced5Mentamer Taganya"Traitor"75%Advanced6Daniel Shevtsov"The Scientist"50%Eliminated7Noam Bettan""96%Advanced +Top 21 roundShow 320 December 2025DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Stav Vaknin""74.8%Advanced2Tamir Levy"Karma Police"75%Advanced3Michael HarPaz""81%Advanced4Shaya Avitan"The Climb"74.6%Advanced5Nave Levi""55%Advanced6Ori Berko""37%Eliminated7Dorin Or""76%Advanced +Top 18 roundShow 422 December 2025 Draw Artist Song Jury votes Score Result 1 Elior Shemesh "" 84%Advanced Agam Hazan Advanced 2 Tamir Levy "" 90% Advanced Daniel Azar Advanced 3 Michael HarPaz "" 56% Advanced Portrait Advanced 4 Gilly Tsanaani "Locked Out of Heaven" 45% Saved Mentamer Taganya Eliminated 5 Noam Bettan "Billie Jean" 83% Advanced Gal De Paz Advanced +Top 18 roundShow 523 December 2025 Draw Artist Song Jury votes Score Result 1 Shaked Solomon "" 77% Advanced Nave Levi Advanced 2 Eitan Aharon "" 92% Advanced Stav Vaknin Advanced 3 Shaya Avitan "" 46% Eliminated Dorin Or Saved 4 Alona Erez "" 82% Advanced Shira Zloof Advanced + Top 16 roundShow 627 December 2025 Duel Draw Artist Song Jury votes Score Result I 1 Michael HarPaz "Ordinary" 74% Saved 2 Tamir Levy "Sex on Fire" 80% Advanced II 3 Agam Hazan "Unicorn" 82% Advanced 4 Stav Vaknin "HaSheket SheNish'ar" 54% Eliminated III 5 Elior Shemesh "Rehab" 64% Advanced 6 Nave Levi "" 62% Saved IV 8 Alona Erez "Ex's & Oh's" 80% Saved 9 Noam Bettan "" 96% Advanced + Top 16 roundShow 728 December 2025 Duel Draw Artist Song Jury votes Score Result I 1 Portrait "" 77% Saved 2 Dorin Or "Nais Balamo" 81% Advanced II 3 Eitan Aharon "" 87% Advanced 4 Shaked Solomon "" 67% Saved III 5 Gilly Tsanaani "Me Too" 64% Eliminated 6 Gal De Paz "Vampire" 77% Advanced IV 7 Daniel Azar "" 61% Saved 8 Shira Zloof "" 83% Advanced + Top 14 roundShow 830 December 2025 Draw Artist Guest artist Song Jury votes Score Result 1 Dorin Or Yuval Dayan "" 75% Advanced 2 Alona Erez Miri Mesika "Skyfall" 94% Advanced 3 Eitan Aharon Uri Aharon "" 91% Advanced 4 Portrait Pablo Rosenberg "" 66% Eliminated 5 Noam Bettan Yuval Raphael "" 84% Advanced + Top 14 roundShow 93 January 2026 Draw Artist Guest artist Song Jury votes Score Result 1 Shira Zloof Keren Peles "" 91% Advanced 2 Nave Levi "" 71% Advanced 3 Agam Hazan Roni Daloomi "What About Us" 53% Advanced 4 Daniel Azar Liran Danino "" 50% Eliminated 5 Gal De Paz Red Band "You and I" 64% Advanced + Top 14 roundShow 104 January 2026 Draw Artist Guest artist Song Jury votes Score Result 1 Shaked Solomon Lior Narkis "" 78% Advanced 2 Elior Shemesh "" 63% Eliminated 3 Michael HarPaz Maya Bouskilla "All by Myself" 78% Advanced 4 Tamir Levy "" 88% Advanced +Top 11 roundShow 116 January 2026DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Michael HarPaz"Story of My Life"90%Advanced2Alona Erez"Stay"96%Advanced3Gal De Paz"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"78%Advanced4Tamir Levy"Smells Like Teen Spirit"49%Saved5Eitan Aharon""55%Eliminated6Noam Bettan""96%Advanced +Top 11 roundShow 127 January 2026DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Nave Levi""88%Advanced2Agam Hazan"How Far I'll Go"66%Saved3Shaked Solomon""79%Advanced4Dorin Or""52%Eliminated5Shira Zloof""86%Advanced +Top 9 roundShow 1310 January 2026DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Tamir Levy""79%Eliminated2Shira Zloof""92%Advanced3Shaked Solomon""55%Saved4Gal De Paz""81%Advanced +Top 9 roundShow 1411 January 2026DrawArtistSongJury votesScoreResult1Michael HarPaz""90%Advanced2Alona Erez""43%Saved3Agam Hazan""66%Eliminated4Nave Levi""90%Advanced5Noam Bettan""84%Advanced Round of 16 From this round, the judges awarded each performance a score of between 7 and 12 points, accounting for 50% of the final score, while the votes of the studio audience accounted for the remaining 50%. The two candidates with the lowest scores were up for elimination, and the judges decided who to eliminate.