Ben Robertson

Part 2 of our look at Israel’s place in Eurovision, reflecting on the outcomes for the Song Contest if Israel stays, or goes.

Either way, the result is going to get ugly.

If I as the author can ask the question - is there an inherent reason why Eurovision would be different than the rest of the arts, sporting and political world?

Grateful to do some research on a difficult topic:

"The reality is that every other field will be watching the EBU with interest to see whether the Contest maintains its inclusion of Israel or takes the unprecedented step of exclusion. That makes the EBU’s decision for 2026 a defining one."

Some big number crunching from me here, but the main conclusion is this:

Why oh why is Eurovision voting more opaque than many of the public broadcasters they represent?

Any discussions about voting can't just be about the methodology, but also about the transparency.

The #eurovision Audience Poll from Vörå

1st, Sweden, 990 votes
2nd, Finland, 10 votes
3rd all others

(Obviously fake)

HUGE reaction to ICH KOMME in Vörå #eurovision

The Eurovision Fairytale: Vörå's Excitement For KAJ on Grand Final Day From the pastures of rural Finland to the Eurovision Grand Final, KAJ's journey has brought a whole community together. From their hometown of Vörå, Ben Robertson reports on the love, pride, and commu...

We have never seen a regional song succeed to this scale at #Eurovision before, like Sweden's entry this year.

But we have in the fictional universe.

KAJ's journey is the same as Lars and Sigrit.

And Bara Bada Bastu is their Husavik.

escinsight.com/2025/05/17/t...

Now on the organised KAJ tour that goes around Vörå district

The Eurovision 2025 Grand Final Running Order Analysis Erika Vikman, Finland 2025 (photo: Alma Bengtsson)

The Grand Final is the final act of the Eurovision 2025 season. We now know who sings first and last on Saturday's marathon. @bensvision.bsky.social examines the pace and narrative of the Grand Final, as well as picking winners and losers from the 26. escinsight.com/2025/05/16/t...

The Eurovision 2025 Grand Final Running Order Analysis Erika Vikman, Finland 2025 (photo: Alma Bengtsson)

The big one is out

My Grand Final Running Order analysis for #Eurovision 2025

escinsight.com/2025/05/16/t...

We have arrived in KAJland

Our welcome at Vaasa Airport

Forget Eurovision, we are en route to Vöråvision!

Next stop Vaasa!

After 1,850 votes, here are the results of the Audience Poll for Semi-Final 2! Thanks to @12pointsusa.bsky.social, @escxtra.bsky.social, @thateurosite.bsky.social, @eurovoix.bsky.social, and @vdan.design for their collaboration and efforts! See you Friday for the Grand Final Poll! #Eurovision

📊 Tonight, we asked the audience who their favourite was from the Evening Preview of Semi-Final 2 of #Eurovision 2025.

The Audience Poll was conducted by That Eurovision Site, @12pointsusa.bsky.social A, @escxtra.bsky.social , @escinsight.com, @eurovoix.bsky.social and @vdan.design

1,850 attendees voted in this year's Semi 2 audience poll, and it was a photo finish! Thanks to our friends at @escinsight.com @thateurosite.bsky.social @escxtra.bsky.social @eurovoix.bsky.social @dudepoints.fun @vdan.design for helping make this happen! #Eurovision

🗳️ The results of the #Eurovision Audience Poll 2025 Semi-Final 2 are here!

After the evening preview, we collaborated with @escinsight.com, @12pointsusa.bsky.social, @dudepoints.fun @eurovoix.bsky.social & @thateurosite.bsky.social to get the first reactions of those leaving St. Jakobshalle!

Long queues at the polling stations tonight, expecting the Audience Poll later than it was two days ago, aiming for 00:45 CEST

Tonight’s Audience Poll Dream Team! Don’t leave #eurovision tonight without giving them a vote for your favourite!

As we are obsessing about Instagram likes and YouTube views, here's evidence suggesting jurors change opinion more on songs from SF1 than SF2, and that they change their opinions more in modern #eurovision than a decade ago.

Klockan slår, nu ere dags
Grab your flags and sausage snacks!

Lenkki for dinner tonight in homage to our great representatives from Österbotten

How KAJ's Participation In Basel Impacts Back Home Kaj, Sweden 2025 (Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU)

Ben Robertson delves into how KAJ’s Eurovision performance resonates within its hometown Vörå, exploring its impact on regional identity, cultural visibility, and the community’s vision for the future. escinsight.com/2025/05/13/h...

Over 1,600 attendees voted in this year's first semifinal exit poll, and here are the results! Proud to be a part of this alongside our friends @escinsight.com @thateurosite.bsky.social @escxtra.bsky.social @eurovoix.bsky.social @eurotrippodcast.com @vdan.design #Eurovision

🗳️ The results of the #Eurovision Audience Poll 2025 Semi-Final 1 are here!

After the evening preview, we collaborated with @escinsight.com , @12pointsusa.bsky.social , @eurovoix.bsky.social & @thateurosite.bsky.social to get the first reactions of those leaving St. Jakobshalle!

After 1,642 votes, here are the results of the Audience Poll for Semi-Final 1! Thanks to @12pointsusa.bsky.social, @escxtra.bsky.social, @thateurosite.bsky.social, @eurovoix.bsky.social, and @vdan.design for their collaboration and efforts! See you in Semi-Final 2? #Eurovision

The #eurovision Audience Poll for SF1 will be published at 00:35 CEST
Check out ESC Insight, Eurovoix, 12 Points From America, That Eurovision Site and ESCXtra on socials for the results!

Proud of this team who will be conducting the #eurovision audience poll tonight! Who will the audience favourite be?

They've said once in a decade is sufficient and I'm pretty sure they won't be bidding/submitting a paper bid should it happen.

Newly renovated Globen is available. Can't see an alternative.

More Vörå content coming this week 😉

I saw! I'd love to speak to Axel after the Contest, journalist to journalist, about his thoughts on "the bubble". Interestingly all accredited media this year got access to the carpet, first time in my experience. But some (mainly fan media) got few interviews (only around 10 acts in their room)