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Israel’s public broadcaster KAN has confirmed that the country’s entry for Eurovision 2026 will once again be chosen through HaKokhav HaBa, the long-running talent competition on Keshet 12. The show has become Israel’s tried and tested route to the contest, delivering not only regular finalists but also winners, and is regarded by KAN as a dependable pipeline of Eurovision success.
In announcing the return of the format, KAN underlined what it called an “unbroken streak” of qualifications for the Grand Final whenever HaKokhav HaBa has been used. That record includes the years in which Israel hosted the contest, and the broadcaster was quick to point out the high watermark of last year’s runner-up finish by Yuval Raphael, which it framed as further evidence of the format’s strength.
KAN also set out its intention to broadcast all three live shows from Vienna in May, regardless of the political uncertainty surrounding Israel’s participation. In a brief statement, it wished “good luck” to the new crop of singers who will vie for the ticket to Austria, emphasising that Eurovision remains a matter of national pride.
The timing of the announcement is significant. EBU members are due to vote in November on whether Israel should be excluded from the contest, following mounting boycott threats from several European broadcasters. For now, though, KAN appears determined to carry on with business as usual—staking its claim on the Eurovision stage even as its place there remains in the balance.
Source: Kan official Twitter account.
