iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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ESC Insight @escinsight.com · 26/05/2026

In an era dominated by spreadsheets, streaming data, and betting markets, Bulgaria’s historic victory shattered the rulebook. @bensvision.bsky.social explains how DARA and her creative team transformed an overlooked mid-table entry into a record-breaking Eurovision champion in just four days.

escinsight.com

The Bangaranga Story: How Bulgaria Came From Behind To Become Our Biggest Ever Eurovision Winner

DARA wins the 70th Eurovision Song Contest for Bulgaria, at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria (Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming/EBU)

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12 Points from America @12pointsusa.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Thanks to the votes of over 3,600 fans, AUSTRALIA is the winner of the #Eurovision grand audience poll! As always, many thanks to: @escinsight.com @escgabe.com @thateurosite.bsky.social @escxtra.bsky.social @vdan.design n.design for your hard work! #Eurovision

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

The Audience Poll returns tonight! Here are the stats you need to remember to understand the bias properly?

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

A statistical journey into my losing bet from last year’s Song Contest. And with that, I wonder if Eurovision voters nowadays vote more tactically than ever before.

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Vienna is hosting a big Eurovision experience Here is what they want all of you to know about the city before, and after, you visit for the Song Contest

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Matt Rickard @matrickard.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Our latest pod is out now, considering the jury contenders. open.spotify.com/episode/1b3s... with @bensvision.bsky.social who kindly joins us from @escinsight.com

open.spotify.com

ESC2026 e07 - The Grand Final Pre-Rehearsals JV Prediction.

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

The big question from this study is…. Which song is this year’s Soldi?

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ESC Insight @escinsight.com · 18/03/2026

With Austria drawing out its Eurovision running order spot, our hosts will sing last. It's time to drop this random draw, argues @bensvision.bsky.social and have the host country automatically awarded the final slot in the running order for the good of the Contest. escinsight.com/2026/03/18/t...

escinsight.com

The Host Country Should Always Perform Last In The Grand Final

Mae Muller, United Kingdom 2023 (photo: EBU)

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

What a line up to be alongside ”Along the way, they chat with Pete & Linda, Erika Vikman, ESC Insight’s Ben Robertson, Euroviisutsomeksi’s Vilho, and JJ”

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ESC Insight @escinsight.com · 02/03/2026

While Finland's Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius celebrated victory with 'Liekinheitin', the fireworks in the Nokia Arena couldn’t mask the tension simmering outside. Ben Robertson reports from Tampere on a #Eurovision National Final caught between musical celebration and international protest.

escinsight.com

Fanning the Flames: Israel and UMK’s Difficult Balancing Act

Promotonal image on how Finnish Euroviion selection show UMK handled the politics around a call for a boycott (photo:UMK)

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ESC Insight @escinsight.com · 28/02/2026

What sets UMK, Finland’s selection show for Eurovision, apart from the others is the quality of its staging concepts, argues @bensvision.bsky.social. Here, he speaks with Show Producer Matti Myllyaho to learn how Yle finds each act, the quality-over-quantity approach, and how it all comes together.

escinsight.com

Half Excel, Half Imagination: UMK's Quirky Confidence And Rebellion

Promotional image for an article prvieiwng UMK 2026 (photo: Ben Robertson)

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Time for my favourite part of the #melfest season, revealing what all the sponsors are doing and giving away as we go around the six week tour!

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Time for my favourite part of the #melfest season, revealing what all the sponsors are doing and giving away as we go around the six week tour!

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Bookmark this article for when you see his performance tonight…and you don’t understand

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Watching the #melfest rehearsal now, final ten minutes are on. Artists no longer on stage and remain in the green room and no recap repeated. Still awkward interviews with each act, but time reduced to about 3 or 4 minutes. Better, but zero entertainment or climax to the show.

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ESC Insight @escinsight.com · 30/01/2026

The new voting system at MelFest means a new way of presenting the votes, and many of the artists are not in favour of the highly visible way in which tension is being pulled out of them. @bensvision.bsky.social goes into more depth on the impact of the changes. escinsight.com/2026/01/30/m...

An image that links to an article on the Eurovision Insight website. it quotes the article, saying "It reminds me of the thrown-out rehearsal concept from Liverpool 2023, where the original plan was for acts in the semi-finals to be brought onto stage to learn their qualifying fate. Not only is this terrible entertainment, but it is unnecessarily cruel for acts to have their fate linger for so long."

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

This has to change And has to change at the next rehearsal For the good of entertainment And for the good of the artists

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Full article after the rehearsal, but these are #melfest heat voting rules: 🥇Most votes in first round 🥈Most points in age group voting after two voting rounds 3rd-6th places are decided by age group voting position. Finalkval spot goes to song from 3rd to 6th with most total votes

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Instinct after first rehearsal at #melfest 1. Greczula 2. A*Teens 3. Indra 4. Jacqline 5/6 noll2/Junior Lerin

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Junior Lerin #melfest rehearsal Starts alone on stage and is joined by four dancers with one dancer on the catwalk ”playing” the steel drums. Junior ends on the catwalk and will get the party going there in the middle of the arena. Song objectively awful and Junior quite out of key mind you

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Jacqline #melfest rehearsal Legs. Lots of legs. Jacqline has great legs and gets to show them off at every opportunity. Prop on stage well used as a sort of bed/lounger for extra sultry seductiveness. Dancers in typical SJB formations Harmonies sound fine in arena.

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Took a walk around #Linköping during the break, here is a thread of how the city is preparing for #melfest this weekend

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

More #melfest rehearsals start in ten minutes Or maybe not Fire alarm has gone off. And the firefighters are here (no, not Brandsta City Släckers, that’s next week)

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

A*Teens #melfest rehearsal Huge Shady Lady prop on steroids and it looks big budget on camera. A*Teens stay in boxes until the 2nd chorus and then break to front of stage, before 20 seconds of awkward audience shots as they climb their platforms. Executed well if lacking that je ne sais quoi

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Indra #melfest rehearsal Starts on platform at front of stage with side lights reminding of Hold Me Closer. Colours change to deep orange for 2nd verse as Indra walks to main stage and is fully oximated by dry ice. BIG lights on key change and strong impact on ending. Needs camera tweaks but good

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Noll2 #melfest rehearsal Two onstage throughout, mainly separated as green side and orange side standing on their boxes, singing to each other but also to camera. Lyrics on screen in same colours, perhaps a bit too childish? Despite the obvious fiddle melody, no one plays instruments.

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Greczula #melfest rehearsal Clear 80s-esque motivs as the song slowly builds from quiet to this Queen/ABBA hybrid. Effective lights that come from ceiling all the way down, giving Cesar Sampson effect. Gimmick lift at end of catwalk for finish.

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Home #melfest First rehearsals in 10 minutes

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Next stop: Iconic Linköping Nu kör vi! #melfest

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ESC Discord @escdiscord.com · 29/01/2026

🇸🇪 60-second snippets of Melodifestivalen 2026's first heat entries have been released on SVT Play. Greczula, Jacqline, Noll2, Junior Lerin, Indra and A-Teens will compete on Saturday in Linköping. Listen here: www.svtplay.se/melodifestiv...

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Thanks SVT for the invite to the press song listenings for @melodifestivalen.se 2026. Always a privilege to take part Reviews will be published on the @escinsight.com channel and I’ll be taking over our Bluesky account for the next five Tuesday mornings. #melfest song reveals start at 10:00 CET.

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

It’s the most wonderful time of the year #melfest

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ESC Insight @escinsight.com · 20/01/2026

Moldova's TRM put on a selection for the ages this weekend, not just for the Contest, but also for the nation itself. @bensvision.bsky.social attended a transformational National Final to find out why Moldova needs Eurovision as much as Eurovision needs Moldova. escinsight.com/2026/01/20/a...

escinsight.com

A Salute To Europe: Moldova Is On Duty

Moldova's National Final and what it means to Moldovan (Photo: Ben Robertson, ESC Insight)

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Watch the Moldovan selection tonight! Live at 18:00 CET! Here is our preview to the show

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

I took a train journey and wrote about it But also about EU membership, Romanian reunification, train gauges, the Eurovision Audience Poll and the war between the Russian and Ottoman Empires And a certain Eurovision song that is now part of our folklore

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Off on a #eurovision adventure to match all adventures

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

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.

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

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."

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

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.

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

The #eurovision Audience Poll from Vörå 1st, Sweden, 990 votes 2nd, Finland, 10 votes 3rd all others (Obviously fake)

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

HUGE reaction to ICH KOMME in Vörå #eurovision

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

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...

escinsight.com

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...

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Now on the organised KAJ tour that goes around Vörå district

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ESC Insight @escinsight.com · 16/05/2025

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...

escinsight.com

The Eurovision 2025 Grand Final Running Order Analysis

Erika Vikman, Finland 2025 (photo: Alma Bengtsson)

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Ben Robertson @bensvision.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Forget Eurovision, we are en route to Vöråvision! Next stop Vaasa!

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ESC Insight @escinsight.com · 14/05/2025

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

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