Voting for the annual ESC250 celebration closed on the 7th of December 2025, and now we have a nervous wait to find out the results! The event is hosted by songfestival.be, with the results revealed on the 31st December 2025 on EFR12 Radio to close out the year. Find out more about it here!
While we wait to find out the official results, members of the TES team will be sharing their votes for this year and explaining the reason for their picks. For our final reveal, Tim reveals how he voted in this year’s edition.
Recency bias at the forefront of Tim’s votes
I will caveat that in previous years, I do try and include songs from older years, but we always discover new songs each year. I cannot help it if I end up listening to these songs on repeat and change my top ten around. I did have the usual, trying to fit 15 entries into 10 scenario, but I somehow made it work (I think), and I hope I do not regret these votes.
1 Point: “Arcade” – Duncan Laurence (Netherlands 2019)
This was the first time when I was in the fandom where I found myself immersed, and I was just emotionally captivated by a song. The right ingredients were there. It was also the first time where my personal winner, ended up winning the whole thing. I might not have been able to go to Rotterdam to watch the show, but I am so happy that having some hope can bring something good.
2 Point: “Tears Getting Sober” – VICTORIA (Bulgaria 2020)
Probably one of the best finds I’ve had being in this fandom. I remember listening to this song (at a time where I’ve had some personal struggles) and it felt like a warm hug. I was so convinced that I would see a Bulgarian win at Eurovision in my lifetime, and then my hopes were dashed by the freakin pandemic. I would love to see VICTORIA return though and I get to see her on the Eurovision stage live.
3 Points: “Europapa” – Joost Klein (Netherlands 2024)
Now, this was a big slip from last year, but you know what, it has never left my rotation. Joost Klein has done something unique here, and I am happy with the way that his career is going at the moment. He deserves nothing but the best in the world.
4 Points: “Zjerm” – Shkodra Elektronike (Albania 2025)
Honestly, this one surprised me. As much as I really wanted Elvana Gjata to have won FiK last year, I think that the right decision was made. This song bought Albania back to the final, after not qualifying in 2024, and we got the best of both worlds. I am also in love with the dance moves, it was weird doing the vogueing dance moves but I’m here for it.
5 Points: “Bara Bada Bastu” – KAJ (Sweden 2025)
Yksi, kaksi, kolme, sauna; KAJ is such a charm. From the moment I met them, to when we got to Basel, these guys were a treat, and a breathe of fresh air that was needed for Sweden. I did not think that I would be obsessed about three guys singing about the health benefits of being in a Sauna during the National Final season, but here we are. I am still waiting for them to go round Europe and tour in London specifically.
6 Points: “Voyage” – Zoë Më (Switzerland 2025)
The recency bias continues once agian. I honestly think that Voyage is the best Host Country entry that has been sent in the history of the contest. Something about its simplistic production that complements Zoë’s vocals, as well as the simple yet difficult staging of having a single continious take that annoys me that Europe didn’t even bother with this and thus brining the supportive argument of having the juries for the shows.
7 Points: “Fuego” – Eleni Foureira (Cyprus 2018)
I won’t deny that this was my winner of 2018. I will scream that to the world on the top of my lungs. Bangers like this come second, but will always be dear to our hearts and all of the fans in the world. To this day, Eleni continues to release banger after banger, and I hope that someday she returns to the contest and finishes the job and takes it home.
8 Points: “Wasted Love” – JJ (Austria 2025)
This has flabbergasted me a bit. I knew it in my heart that Austria would make it to the final. I did not expect them to win the whole frickin thing. This win means a lot to me. There’s a Euroivision winner with Filipino blood. Not to sound patriotic, it nice to see some representation on the stage. JJ slayed that stage and it deserves its flowers.
10 Points: “Tattoo” – Loreen (Sweden 2023)
Consistency is key (same place as last year). It will always remain on my list. “Tattoo” was a full circle for me. I had the opportunity to be there when she performed it live for the first time two years ago in Malmö, and the journey from there on was fun and chaotic, my heart was full when she was announced the winner. Loreen, you will always be stuck on me like a Tattoo.
Special mentions
Before I reveal my 12 points, I would like to give a special shout-out to a few entries that came so close to making my top ten. They are:
- “Hold Me Closer” – Cornelia Jakobs (Sweden 2022) – I forgot about this two years in a row and I am sad that I forgot. I still remember when I first listened to it and underestimated it so badly cos the Swedish public and me don’t always agree on things. However, I would say that I was happy to be proven wrong and that she made it. I am looking forward to her releasing more music.
- “ZARI” – Marina Satti (Greece 2024) – No notes, perfection in everything about it.
- “Never Give Up On You” – Lucie Jones (United Kingdom, 2017) – Okay, this is one of the years where we did it right and I still can’t comprehend how we came 15th, we really should’ve at least come for the left hand side of the scoreboard.
And Tim’s 12 points go to…. “Euphoria” – Loreen (Sweden 2012)
I know what you’re going to say, it’s very cliché. However, I do not care. Euphoria is the song that made me delve deeper into the contest. I traveled a lot because of it, and I met a lot of awesome human beings because of it. Like Loreen sings: “forever ’til the end of time”.
Now that Tim has revealed his votes for ESC250 this year, what do you think of his picks? Who received your 12 points this year? As always, please let us know what you think by commenting below. Be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky for all of the latest Eurovision news.
News Source: That Eurovision Site
Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU
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