🇮🇱 Road to Basel: Israel

Road to Basel: Israel

Road to Basel: Israel! As the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Israel.

photo: Shai Franco/Tedy Productions LTD
Yuval Raphael

Yuval Raphael, a 24-year-old Israeli singer from Ra’anana, embarked on her professional music career in 2024. She quickly gained national recognition after winning the 11th season of HaKokhav HaBa (The Next Star), Israel’s national selection for Eurovision. Before her rise to fame, Raphael’s early life was marked by a three-year stay in Geneva, Switzerland, during which she became fluent in French. Aditionnaly, her musical influences are notably diverse, spanning from classic rock bands as Led Zeppelin and the Scorpions to contemporary pop icons such as BeyoncĂ© and Celine Dion. Notably, Raphael is a survivor of the October 7, 2023, Nova music festival attack, an experience that has profoundly influenced her artistic expression. ​

“New Day Will Rise”

Israel’s Eurovision entry, “New Day Will Rise,” is a multilingual ballad performed in English, French, and Hebrew. Written by Keren Peles and produced by Tomer Biran, the song was selected through an internal committee process and released on March 9, 2025. The lyrics convey themes of resilience and hope, with the Hebrew line referencing Song of Songs 8:7: “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.”

​

HaKokhav HaBa 2025

Israel’s national selection for Eurovision 2025 was meticolously conducted through the reality singing competition HaKokhav HaBa. The show aired on Keshet 12 and online via mako.co.il, culminating in a final held at the Neve Ilan Communications Center. Yuval Raphael emerged victorious on January 22, 2025, earning the right to represent Israel in Basel.

The final results were:

  1. Yuval Raphael, singing “Writing’s on the Wall
  2. ​Valerie Hamaty, “Imagine
  3. Red Band and Moron Aharoni, “Be Still My Love
  4. Daniel Wais, “Let it Be”
Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest

Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 45 times since its debut in 1973. The country has won the contest four times: in 1978 (Izhar Cohen & The Alpha Beta’s “A-ba-ni-bi”, 1979 (Gali Atari & Milk and Honey‘s “Hallelujah”), 1998 (Dana International‘s “Diva”), and 2018 (Netta‘s “Toy”). Israel continues to be a strong contender, with high placings in 2023 and 2024.

A Random Israeli Entry

Reflecting on Israel’s Eurovision history, random.org chose the 2009 one. Israeli Noa and Palestinian Mira Awad sang in three languages: Hebrew, Arabic and English. The song is entitled “There Must Be Another Way”. Song and title speak for themselves.

Betting Odds

As of now, Yuval Raphael’s “New Day Will Rise” is in 5th place in order to win the Eurovision Song Contest. Bookmakers currently give it a 2nd place to win the 2nd semifinal.

 

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The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 winner has been revealed after a dazzling Grand Final at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna. Dara won the contest with “Bangaranga”, representing Bulgaria, and finished the night with  points. The victory brought a dramatic conclusion to the 70th edition of the contest, which once again united millions of viewers across Europe and beyond. From the first notes of the performance, Dara stood out with a staging concept that combined strong vocals, clear storytelling and a memorable visual identity. A winning performance with impact “Bangaranga” became one of the most talked-about entries of the season thanks to its instant hook, emotional build and confident live delivery. During the Grand Final, the performance connected with both juries and viewers, turning early expectations into a winning result. Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 in spectacular fashion, as DARA’s “Bangaranga” topped both the jury vote and the public televote in Vienna. The country scored 516 points in the Grand Final, turning its Eurovision comeback into a historic first victory. The result was clear proof of broad appeal. Professional juries rewarded the entry with 204 points, while viewers across Europe and the Rest of the World added another 312 points. That rare double gave Bulgaria the strongest possible mandate: technical recognition from experts and emotional support from audiences. A Eurovision victory built on impact “Bangaranga” arrived at the Wiener Stadthalle as one of the most energetic entries of the year. DARA combined sharp pop production with a confident stage presence, making the song feel immediate from the first beat. The performance was bold, polished and easy to remember, three qualities that often decide a Eurovision result. For Bulgaria, the win carries extra meaning. The country returned to the contest in 2026 after several years away, and its comeback quickly became one of the season’s biggest stories. Instead of simply rejoining the competition, Bulgaria went all the way and claimed the trophy for the first time. DARA’s victory also marks a personal breakthrough. Already known in Bulgaria and across the Balkan pop scene, she now has a major international platform. “Bangaranga” is likely to gain fresh momentum on streaming services, while the performance itself will remain one of the defining Eurovision moments of 2026. Why Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 with juries and viewers The voting sequence underlined the strength of the entry. Bulgaria led the jury vote, then confirmed its win with the highest televote score of the night. That balance is important: many Eurovision entries succeed with either juries or viewers, but “Bangaranga” managed to connect with both. It also shows how effective the Bulgarian package was. The song had radio-friendly energy, the staging delivered arena impact, and DARA carried the performance with charisma and control. Nothing about the win felt accidental. It was exactly the kind of result that Eurovision fans remember long after the Grand Final. After the final votes were revealed, Bulgaria stood at the top of the scoreboard with a result that will change the country’s Eurovision story forever. From comeback participant to Eurovision champion, DARA and “Bangaranga” gave Bulgaria a night of celebration and a place in contest history.    

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