The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2026 begins this evening in Vienna with the first semifinal. Finland will be represented by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, who will perform their song "Liekinheitin" ("Flammenwerfer") in Finnish while playing the violin live. Israel will compete with Noam Bettan and his pop song "Michelle," which could be accompanied by protests.
Currently, Finland is ranked first in the betting odds, while Israel faces the question of whether it should be excluded from the competition due to the current situation in Gaza. This debate has plunged the ESC into one of the deepest crises in its history, as countries like the Netherlands and Spain are boycotting this year.
Cultural State Minister Wolfram Weimer expressed support for Israel's participation, stating: "I have strongly advocated for keeping the ESC open, allowing Israel to sing."
