The Eurovision promo circuit is about to kick off, and the biggest pre-party in Israel is back for another year. Israel Calling 2023 takes place on Monday 3 April. 

Stars from the class of Eurovision 2023 will perform their tracks at a huge promo concert in Tel Aviv Port’s Hangar 11 venue. This year’s concert also celebrates Israel’s 50th participation in Eurovision since joining in 1973.  

The show — initiated by Eurovision legend Tali Eshkoli — will be hosted by Dafna Dekel and Sigal Shachmon, who hosted the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest. Israel Calling gives the stars a chance to perform their songs on stage before the big show in Liverpool this May.

Israel Calling 2023: Monday 3 April at Tel Aviv Port

The complete lineup for the show will be gradually revealed in the next couple of days on social media.

On 2 April, a long list of delegations and artists from the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will arrive to Israel from all across Europe. They will stay in Israel for 3 days, during which they will partake in planting trees in the KKL Eurovision Forest located within the European Forest, as part of the global fight against the climate crisis.

Israel Calling is a collaboration with The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Ministry of Culture and Sports, and The Jewish National Fund (KKL – Keren Kayemet LeYisrael). 

The show was initiated by Israeli producer Tali Eshkoli, who worked on producing Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv. Recently, she featured in Benidorm Fest 2022 as one of the international jurors ranking the Spanish Eurovision contenders. 

Tali Eshkoli said: “I am beyond excited to bring ‘Israel Calling’ Eurovision promo concert back to Israel once again. The show — which has already become a joyful tradition of an international musical celebration –- is highly anticipated by Eurovision fans from Israel and across Europe.”

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Tali Eshkoli (@tali.eshkoli)

She added: “This is much more than a musical celebration. It is a celebration of shared universal values, connections and togetherness. I would like to take this opportunity and welcome the delegations, journalists and bloggers: Welcome to Israel, we are all looking forward to seeing you. I’m sure that it’s gonna be awesome!”

Miki Zohar, Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports, said: “I am proud to announce that under my leadership, the Ministry of Culture and Sports is joining the ‘Israel Calling’ event initiative for the first time. ‘Israel Calling’ provides international exposure to Israeli culture, arts and music.”

“Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest delegations lays a fertile ground for cultivating international relations, it promotes Israeli advocacy and inspires collaborations between artists from all over Europe and Israeli musicians. In the last budget, and after many efforts, I have increased the ministry’s budget in favour of holding such international events, culture and sports productions, which add prestige to the State of Israel and contribute to its reputation”.

Israel Calling tickets go on sale Sunday 26 March.

Will you attend Israel Calling? Which artists are you excited to see perform? Let us know in the comments below.

23 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Marty McCU
Marty McCU
11 months ago

No one with the right mind will go. Too much going on there left, right, and centre. Sort your problems out before you invite the world. It’s too dangerous.

XOOOD
XOOOD
11 months ago
Reply to  Marty McCU

dangerous?

Marlinken
Marlinken
11 months ago

There was a time when the Polish and Serbian fans could turn me off a good song with their nationalist behaviour.

I’d say that the Israeli fans are doing that this year but they don’t have to turn me off ‘Unicorn’. It was dreadful to begin with.

Ifty
Ifty
11 months ago

The involvement and credit taking by corrupt and despicable politicians such as Miki Zohar is really turning me off the event.

Was it really necessary to involve these fascist in the event? Seems like it managed fine for years without them.

And no, I’m not saying that all Israeli politician are fascists. But the current ministers of culture and foreign affairs aren’t far off the mark…

Esc addict / Shut up and watch my ...
Esc addict / Shut up and watch my ...
11 months ago

I think it was uncertain until now because normally they announce it largely before…but I mean it’s in 10 days from now it’s a bit too short for the delegations to organize their trip to Israel no? I wish them to have a lot of 2023 contestants for their concert though.
One more pre party it’s still good because this gap between the deadline for the songs mid March until the first rehearsals at the end of April is too long and unbearable imo.

Esc addict / Shut up and watch my ...
Esc addict / Shut up and watch my ...
11 months ago

But I forgot that the Barcelona pre party is tomorrow! So excited to see the first live performances of Slovenia, Austria, UK and Georgia! It will be an interesting saturday night.

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
11 months ago

So excited for UK & Austria!

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
11 months ago

I’m so happy! I thought it wouldn’t take place this year!

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
11 months ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

Same here : )

Craig
Craig
11 months ago

Nothing says ‘party’ like a Monday night…..

Panna
Panna
11 months ago
Reply to  Craig

You can party any night

Pat
Pat
11 months ago
Reply to  Craig

Have you never heard of “Margarita Mondays”!??

West
West
11 months ago
Reply to  Pat

I prefer pina coladas on friday.

Ifty
Ifty
11 months ago
Reply to  Craig

In Tel-aviv it don’t matter.

Ruu
Ruu
11 months ago

Hopefully it will go better than last year..

Ibis
Ibis
11 months ago
Reply to  Ruu

What happened last year?

Ruu
Ruu
11 months ago
Reply to  Ibis

Sound issues which made everyone sound pretty bad, host (Shefita) doing insulting jokes, and it looked like nothing had been planned so very sloppy event overall.

One of Shefitas “jokes” was her saying: “Come here you f***er” to Emelie De Forest when she was supposed to perform next.

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
11 months ago
Reply to  Ruu

Shefita is something xD It’s basically a character and I guess it’s not for everyone
There really were some technical issues but overall, it was quite a good show, as someone who was there, at least in my opinion
Dafna and Sigal will definitely be better hosts though

Ifty
Ifty
11 months ago
Reply to  Ruu

I loved Shafita but I get those who don’t. Sound issues are to be expected in a show like this. They don’t have time to do practice runs with every individual acts for hours and days before the show like they so at Eurovision for example and when you’re looking at over 20 individual acts imperfect sound is to be expected. But most acts were actually fine. Some of the ones that weren’t fine weren’t fine at Eurovision either…

Noam600
Noam600
11 months ago
Reply to  Ibis

The host was.. cringe!

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
11 months ago
Reply to  Noam600

Shefita is amazing it’s just that it’s mainly Israelis who get her humor. Well Ben El didn’t at first in the next star as you can recall lmao but he warmed up to her eventually.

Noam600
Noam600
11 months ago
Reply to  Ruu

2022 was a car crash for sure.. but I feel that it will be wayyyy better this year.

Jonas
Jonas
11 months ago

Does Noa like skittles? Shazam!