Despite the largest anti-Israel protest campaign in Eurovision history — including public boycotts by five countries — Israel's Noam Bettan still finished in second place at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia all boycotted the competition in protest over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also joined the political attacks against Israel surrounding the event.
But despite the pressure campaign, both the professional juries and the public vote still placed Israel near the very top of the competition.
On social media, many Iranian exiles openly declared that they voted for Israel as a sign of solidarity against the Iranian regime and its anti-Israel agenda. The online support highlighted the growing divide between ordinary Iranians and the Islamic Republic’s leadership.