Israel reaches Eurovision final as Boy George-backed San Marino is eliminated

Israeli singer Noam Bettan has qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 grand final after advancing from the first semi-final in Vienna, navigating a venue atmosphere that was sharply divided between protest and support during his performance. San Marino, whose entry featured a guest appearance by Boy George, was among the acts that did not survive Tuesday's semi-final vote and was eliminated from the competition.

The Details

Bettan secured a place in Saturday's grand final with the song 'Michelle' after performing in the first semi-final on Tuesday, according to the Eurovision Song Contest's official results. He was one of ten acts to qualify from Tuesday's semi-final and advance to the grand final scheduled for 16 May. The official results page lists the ten first semi-final qualifiers alongside the five eliminated acts, a group that includes San Marino among those that did not progress.

The scene inside the venue during Bettan's performance reflected the ongoing controversy surrounding Israel's participation. BBC News reported that some audience members booed and shouted anti-Israeli slogans as the Israeli act took the stage. At the same time, other members of the audience chanted Bettan's name in support. The BBC described the atmosphere by stating that the Israeli act was 'met with boos and chants, but also a chorus of support' at Tuesday's semi-final.

Security personnel at the event intervened to address disruptions. A statement from host broadcaster ORF and Eurovision organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), quoted by the BBC, said that disruptive audience members 'were later removed by security for continuing to disturb the audience.' The removal came after protests during the Israeli act's performance created visible tension inside the Vienna venue.

San Marino's elimination from the semi-final drew particular notice because the country's entry featured the involvement of a well-known music figure. San Marino was represented by Senhit, and the BBC reported that Boy George appeared as a guest performer on the country's entry. The BBC also reported that the song failed to survive Tuesday's vote. Eurovision's official results confirmed that San Marino was among the five acts eliminated from the semi-final field.

The divided reception inside the venue had been anticipated by observers of the contest. Dean Vuletic, an expert cited by the Associated Press, said ahead of Tuesday's semi-final, 'We'll see demonstrations, but we'll also see a lot of colorful events going on which will really represent what Eurovision is about, which is bringing Europeans together.' His comments came as the contest prepared to open in an environment of significant political tension.

Context

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is being held in Vienna, and Tuesday's first semi-final sent ten acts through to the grand final scheduled for Saturday, 16 May. The qualifying acts from the first semi-final will join automatic finalists and additional qualifiers from the second semi-final for the Saturday show. The contest has faced prolonged controversy over Israel's participation because of the Gaza war, with the political dimension of the competition creating unusual pressure on both performers and organisers.

The Associated Press reported before the semi-final that five countries were boycotting Eurovision 2026 over Israel's inclusion in the competition. The same Associated Press report noted that Bettan had practiced singing while being booed in preparation for his semi-final performance, indicating that the performer had anticipated at least some form of audience protest during his time on stage. The scenes that unfolded inside the Vienna venue on Tuesday reflected that pre-contest tension, with the audience split between vocal protest and vocal support during the Israeli act's performance.

Voting procedures have also faced scrutiny in the lead-up to the 2026 contest. Eurovision organisers changed voting rules for the 2026 competition after accusations of irregularities in the 2025 contest. Among the changes implemented for this year's event was a reduction in the number of viewer votes each person could cast, according to reports from both the BBC and the Associated Press. The adjustments were made as part of the contest's response to allegations that emerged after last year's competition.

What's Next

Bettan and the other nine qualifiers from Tuesday's first semi-final will compete in the grand final on Saturday, 16 May, in Vienna. A second semi-final will determine additional finalists who will join the first semi-final qualifiers for Saturday's grand final show. The grand final will bring together qualifying acts from both semi-finals alongside automatic finalists to compete for the Eurovision title in Vienna on Saturday night.