Israel qualified for the Eurovision 2026 Grand Final despite protests disrupting its performance in Vienna, joining nine other countries including Sweden, Greece, and Poland in a semi-final marked by drama on and off the stage.
The first semi-final wrapped up yesterday evening in Vienna with ten countries punching their tickets to the May 17 Grand Final. Moldova, Sweden, Greece, Belgium, Finland, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland made it through. The rest went home, including Portugal, Estonia, and San Marino.
I have watched these semi-finals for years now. The reveal never gets less stressful. Greece was announced first at around thirty seconds into the official broadcast. Poland came last, nearly eight minutes later, which apparently gave Polish fans minor cardiac events judging by the comments online.
Protests Hit Israel’s Performance
The qualification list tells one story. What happened during Israel’s performance tells another. Noam Bettan was singing “Michelle” when audience members began shouting “stop the genocide.” The shouts were audible on the broadcast. It was not subtle. It was not brief.
This follows a formal warning the European Broadcasting Union issued to Israeli broadcaster Kan last week. Kan had promoted a video calling on viewers to give all ten votes to Bettan. That breaks the rules on voting impartiality. The EBU does not mess around with this stuff, or at least it tries not to.
Israel qualified anyway. The votes spoke. Whether that reflects the song’s quality or organized voting blocs is impossible to say. What is clear is that the Eurovision stage remains politically charged despite the EBU’s “#UnitedByMusic” branding. I have covered enough of these contests to know the slogan rings hollow when protests erupt mid-song.
Sweden and Finland Lead Nordic Charge
Sweden’s Felicia delivered “My System” with the kind of polished staging Swedes seem genetically programmed to produce. She is now a top contender according to betting sites. Finland also sailed through, continuing the Nordic winning streak that has dominated recent years.
Denmark competes in Semi-Final 2 on May 14. We sit this round out. But watching Sweden and Finland advance puts pressure on the Danish entry. Nordic countries do not just participate in Eurovision. We compete with each other as much as with anyone else.
The contrast between Nordic success and the eliminations is stark. Estonia, a podium finisher in 2025 with “Espresso Macchiato” by Tommy Cash, did not make it this year. Portugal and Georgia also fell short. The competition tightens every cycle.
Austria Hosts After Last Year’s Win
This all unfolds in Vienna because Austria won in Basel last year. JJ’s “Wasted Love” scored 436 points. Israel came second with “New Day Will Rise” by Yuval Raphael. Estonia grabbed third. The Wiener Stadthalle now hosts 43 participating countries across two semi-finals and the Grand Final.
The venue choice matters less than what happens inside it. Protests during Israel’s performance will not be the last disruption. The EBU has dealt with this since 2024 and shows no sign of changing its stance. Israel stays in as long as the broadcaster follows the rules, however loosely.
I find the whole situation exhausting from a journalistic standpoint. You cannot separate the music from the politics when the politics literally interrupts the music. The EBU insists Eurovision transcends borders and conflicts. The audience shouting during a performance suggests otherwise.
For expats like me who have followed this contest through multiple host cities and controversies, the 2026 edition feels both familiar and more tense. Music competitions should not require security briefings. But here we are. Denmark’s turn comes Wednesday. The Grand Final follows Saturday. The drama, onstage and off, will not stop until the last vote is counted.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: EBU to Vote on Israel’s Eurovision Future
The Danish Dream: Denmark Stands By Eurovision Amid Rising Boycotts
The Danish Dream: The Danish Music Museum
DR: På trods af drama i kulissen: Her er de 10 første Eurovision-finalister
