The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is about to kick off its first semi-final tonight – and Noam Bettan is hoping for a spot in Saturday’s grand final.
With the semi-finals set to get underway tonight, Noam – who is representing Israel at this year’s competition – is hoping his song will impress viewers at home to give him a ticket to the final.
Will the singer have what it takes with his track?
As we wait to find out, read on for everything you need to know about the singer as Eurovision 2026 arrives.
Who is Israel Eurovision 2026 entry Noam Bettan?
Instagram: @noam_bettan
TikTok: @noambettan
Noam Bettan is a singer and songwriter who began his music career in 2018, following his appearance on Israeli reality series Aviv or Eyal.
In 2022, he released his debut album, featuring the single Buba, which reached third place on the Galgalatz radio charts. Over the years, he has continued to create music.
In 2026, Bettan won the 12th season of Rising Star, the reality singing competition that selects Israel’s Eurovision entry.
How old is Noam Bettan?
Noam Bettan is 28 years old.
What nationality is Noam Bettan?
The singer was born and raised in Ra’anana in Israel. He was born into a French Jewish family, with his parents having immigrated from France to Israel.
What has Noam Bettan said about representing Israel at Eurovision 2026?
Ahead of the competition, Bettan acknowledged the significant controversy over Israel’s participation, saying it will be like “entering the lion’s den” during an interview on the Kan Gimmel radio show.
He added: “But I can say that seeing those few Israeli flags in the audience — you look at that, and you know that you have a whole nation behind you, and you’re their voice. It’s truly a privilege.”
What is Israel’s Eurovision 2026 song called?
Bettan will represent Israel with the song Michelle. It was co-written by last year’s representative Yuval Raphael.
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Where did Israel come in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?
Israel came in second place in last year’s contest, scoring 357 points.
They were represented by Yuval Raphael with her song New Day Will Rise.
The Eurovision Song Contest has faced significant criticism over its decision to allow Israel to take part in the event due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
This year, a number of countries will boycott the contest following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision not to expel Israel from the competition.
At the EBU general assembly in December 2025, a vote was held to introduce new rules that would stop governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters. No vote was held on Israel’s participation.
The EBU said in a statement: “A large majority of members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place.”
Following this, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland confirmed they would not participate in this year’s Eurovision.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ said: “RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”
The BBC, which broadcasts the competition in the UK, has said it supports the decision made by the EBU. “This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive,” it said in a statement.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final will take place on Saturday 16 May 2026.
You can also check out the full list of Eurovision winners and how many times the UK has won Eurovision.
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