Nova Festival Survivor Yuval Raphael to Perform at Memorial Ceremony

Singer Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre on October 7, 2023, has been chosen to perform at the central memorial ceremony for bereaved families and the Nova community. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Re'im site, the location of the festival and the massacre.

Raphael, who hid in a shelter for hours during the attack, stated, "On this day, nothing is more important to me than returning to the place where we lost so many, where people we knew and loved were murdered and abducted." She added, "There is nothing more meaningful to me than being with the families and the people who were with me there in spirit or body on the worst day of our lives."

She acknowledged the emotional difficulty of returning to the site, saying, "It is very hard for me to go back there, very painful and even frightening, to stand before all the dear people who lost their dearest and sing. But this is the only and precise place where I want and need to be, and I am grateful for the immense privilege to do so."

Raphael represented Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025, where she won first place in the public vote and finished second overall. Her performance became a symbol of hope and resilience. Now, two years after the massacre, she will return to Re'im to perform for the bereaved families, survivors, and community members.

Her participation is expected to be a central and moving moment of the ceremony, which serves as a significant gathering point for all affected by the October 7 events. Raphael recently performed at the state memorial ceremony for former President Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl, singing "Shemesh" by Hanan Ben Ari.