Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Noam Bettan after Israel finished second in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, May 16. The lead-up to this year’s event was dominated by the row over Israel’s inclusion, with five nations — Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland — withdrawing in protest.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 has officially crowned its winner following a spectacular live final packed with surprises, emotional performances and fierce competition. See details.

English has long dominated pop music, but it no longer reigns supreme at the Eurovision Song Contest. This year, 25 languages are being sung onstage, from Albanian to Ukrainian.

Rehearsals for the Eurovision Song Contest usually feature elaborate choreography and intense pyrotechnics, staples at the performances of the annual song extravaganza. For Israel