Noam Bettan performing for Israel at Eurovision on May 12, 2026 / Alma Bengtson / EBU
Israel made it through the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest last night to qualify for this Saturday’s grand final.
The country’s participation has caused significant controversy this year due to the conflict in Gaza, prompting five countries – Ireland, The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain and Slovenia – to boycott the competition.
Booing was heard as Israel’s act, Noam Bettan, took to the stage in Vienna but nevertheless he finished in the top ten acts when the voting results were revealed.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Boy George as his cameo on San Marino’s entry, Senhit’s ‘Superstar’, failed to get sufficient votes to proceed.
The ten qualifying acts were:
- Moldova: Satoshi – ‘Viva, Moldova!’
- Sweden: Felicia – ‘My System’
- Croatia: Lelek – ‘Andromeda’
- Greece: Akylas – ‘Ferto’
- Finland: Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen – ‘Liekinheitin’
- Israel: Noam Bettan – ‘Michelle’
- Belgium: Essyla – ‘Dancing on the Ice’
- Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – ‘Solo quiero mas’
- Poland: Alicja – ‘Pray’
- Serbia: Lavina – ‘Kraj mene’
The five acts that failed to qualify were:
- Portugal: Bandidos do Cante – ‘Rosa’
- Georgia: Bzikebi – ‘On Replay’
- Montenegro: Tamara Zivkovic – ‘Nova zora’
- Estonia: Vanilla Ninja – ‘Too Epic To Be True’
- San Marino: Senhit ft. Boy George – ‘Superstar’
Eurovision continues with the second semi-final on Thursday night.
