Israel's 'The Next Star' Adopts Eurovision Voting System for New Season
The popular Israeli show 'The Next Star for Eurovision' is overhauling its voting system for the new season on Keshet 12, replacing binary buttons with a Eurovision-style 4-to-12 points scoring model.
The Israeli reality television landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation as the hit singing competition "The Next Star for Eurovision" prepares to launch its upcoming season on Keshet 12 with a major revamp of its iconic voting mechanism.
After years of determining contestants' fates through simple binary blue or red buttons, the production team has decided to adopt a European-inspired approach, introducing a brand-new scoring system modeled directly after the iconic Eurovision Song Contest.
A New Era for the Judges' Panel
Under the newly implemented model, the judging panel is moving away from the simple "pass" or "fail" dichotomy. Instead of casting a uniform vote, each judge will award contestants a graded personal score ranging from 4 to 12 points, mirroring the famous Eurovision voting tradition. These professional scores will then be meticulously calculated alongside the votes of the studio audience.
Despite the sweeping changes, the show's most beloved visual centerpiece remains untouched: the massive interactive screen continues to separate the aspiring artists from the audience. To lift the barrier and secure a spot in the next stage, contestants must still cross the combined 70 percent threshold.
Raising the Bar for Local Talent
This strategic shift represents the most significant structural overhaul since the show's inception. In the classic system, each judge held a fixed voting power worth a small percentage, while the rest belonged to the audience.
"The new methodology allows judges to offer a much wider range of appreciation, rewarding precise performances even if they are not entirely flawless," noted production insiders close to the show.
Developed by Tedy Productions and Keshet, "The Next Star" has established itself over the past decade as Israel's premier platform for musical talent. With the winner of the upcoming season heading off to represent the country at the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria, hosts Assi Azar and Rotem Sela will return alongside judges Shiri Maimon, Keren Peles, Itay Levi, Assaf Amdursky, and new addition Osher Cohen.
