Israel's Noam Bettan to Perform 'Michelle' at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna

Noam Bettan Wins National Selection Contest

According to Главком: Israel has chosen its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. Singer Noam Bettan won the national selection final, held in Neve Ilan, with his song 'Michelle', which was officially unveiled on March 5th on Kan 11 television. In the final, Bettan performed a cover of 'Dernière danse', securing a total of 192 points-72 from the professional jury and 120 from the public televote.

Selection Process and Final Results

The national selection began in November 2025, culminating in a final hosted by Assi Azar and Rotem Sela. Three contestants advanced to the superfinal: Noam Bettan, Gal de Paz, and Shira Zloof. The final outcome was determined by a 50/50 split between jury votes and public televotes. The final ranking was as follows:

• 1. Noam Bettan – 'Dernière danse', 192 points;
• 2. Gal de Paz – 'All I Ask', 94 points;
• 3. Shira Zloof – 'Hopelessly Devoted To You', 74 points.

Bettan's victory coincided with his birthday. His original entry, 'Michelle', blends Hebrew, French, and English lyrics, though the text was modified to meet the European Broadcasting Union's language requirements. The song was composed by Nadiv Agroni, Tsil Kalifi, and Yuval Rafael, the latter of whom represented Israel at Eurovision 2025.

Noam Bettan grew up in Ra'anana in a family of French immigrants from Grenoble and is fluent in Hebrew, French, and English. His television career started in 2018 when he placed third on the show 'Aviv or Eyal'. He released his first single in 2021. Earlier, at ages 16 and 17, he was unsuccessful in auditions for 'HaKokhav HaBa' (The Next Star).

Eurovision 2026 is shaping up to be a notable edition. Romania is returning to the contest after a three-year absence, while Australia, represented by Delta Goodrem with the song 'Eclipse', has opted out of a national selection for the fourth consecutive year. The contest is a major cultural event in Europe, drawing millions of viewers annually.

Noam Bettan's win highlights the growing diversity and multicultural influences within Israel's music scene. The multilingual nature of 'Michelle' could resonate with a broad European audience, reflecting the contest's spirit of cultural exchange.

With the participation of countries like Romania and the notable entry from Australia, Eurovision 2026 is anticipated to be a highly competitive and exciting spectacle.