Despite lingering uncertainty, Israel is moving forward with its Eurovision preparations. The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) announced that this year’s Eurovision contestant will once again be selected through the reality show “The Next Star,” which is set to air in the coming weeks.
Kan and the commercial broadcaster Keshet have finalized an agreement to continue their long-standing partnership. Although the deal had been in place for several weeks, technical issues delayed its formal signing. Both parties have now officially confirmed the agreement.
However, Israel’s participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is not guaranteed. A vote by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) member states is scheduled for November to determine whether Israel will be allowed to compete. If the country is disqualified, the winner of “The Next Star” will receive an alternative prize, which has not yet been determined.
This marks the ninth time Israel’s Eurovision entry will be chosen via “The Next Star,” a collaboration that has yielded notable successes, including Netta Barzilai’s 2018 victory and Yuval Raphael's second-place finish in 2025. In every case, Israel has advanced to the finals.
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna on May 16, with the semifinals airing on May 12 and 14.