What? Even if no one withdrew (HUGE if) and North Macedonia 🇲🇰, Kazakhstan 🇰🇿, and Canada 🇨🇦 all joined (also huge if) that's only equalling the record at 43, who else would even join beyond that?

My votes for #ESC250! Same 10 songs as last year though with some reshuffling in the order. Mall 🇦🇱 remains on top for the 2nd year in a row.

Our first artist of the season! Admittedly I don't really know anything about her, but from what I've heard from others it seems like a solid choice. My guess is that Cyprus 🇨🇾 is going back to its roots of sending female bops but we'll see.

A lot of female ballads in JESC this year, guess that's the Esperança effect.

Should be noted that Canada 🇨🇦 "exploring Eurovision participation" doesn't mean the EBU will actually invite them.

Well we do know that Eurovision Canada 🇨🇦 was originally meant to be a National selection for Eurovision. Considering that it ultimately never happened, I thought that door was closed, but I guess not.

Still waiting on 7 songs so don't know everything, but at first glance definitely seems a very good draw for France 🇫🇷. Ukraine 🇺🇦 maybe slightly disadvantaged being 6th, but they've done well in the past from early on so don't think they'll be affected too much.

Corporate needs you to find the difference between these pictures.

Seems like TRM are making an effort to professionalize their National Final. Might cause them to lose some of the charm they had, especially with the live auditions not being broadcasted, but should be a better strategy to raise the overall quality in the long term.

A much more expected return, but a welcome one nonetheless. Moldova 🇲🇩 have always cared and put a lot of effort into ESC, so I hope they're able to get back on the right foot after last year's withdrawal.

Bulgaria 🇧🇬 haven't done a National Final since 2013, and (barring 2022) they've had good success selecting internally, so a bit surprised but still interested to see how it pans out. If anything it'll at least be a fun watch 😅.

They've posted a Welcome Back Romania 🇷🇴 reel.on Instagram for those of you interested.

I'd rather not thank you.

We have half the JESC songs now, so this is how my rankings stands at the moment (Note: Ce Monde 🇫🇷 and Motanka 🇺🇦 are essentially 1a and 1b for me at the moment).

I feel like it's worth mentioning that Romania and Bulgaria wouldn't have returned if they weren't genuinely interested. Like the EBU can give a helping hand in regards to fees, but it's not like they're forcing them to take part to help with numbers. Additionally...

Both Poland's 🇵🇱 and Montenegro's 🇲🇪 JESC entries are pretty good actually.

Seems like a really good line up on paper. From what I've heard Clicherik & Mäx start off as the favourites, but I'm also really interested in hearing what Vanilla Ninja, Ant x Minimal Wind, and Getter Janni have brought. Victor Crone on the other hand is a hard pass.

Considering they're having this press conference in Chișinău Arena and they're even using the new logo, have to imagine that's Moldova 🇲🇩 likely back as well but we'll see.

Again certainly something I didn't expect to happen going into this season, but nice to see Bulgaria 🇧🇬 back. It'll be interesting to see what strategy they take, hopefully they can return to the form they had in 2016-2021.

I see that I have once again missed an entire ESC news cycle while I was asleep last night.

Cool Vibes is literally my favourite Swiss entry ever, so needless to say really excited for Vanilla Ninja. Nice to see Ollie back as well.

Unexpected but nice to see Romania 🇷🇴 back. Hope that they have an actual strategy and support system for their artist this time, because 2023 for Theodor was awful to say the least.

I see that I missed an entire ESC news cycle while I was asleep last night.

Nice to see Luzac back. Actually quite liked Je Danse and it probably would've been my winner last year if it weren't for La Poupée Monte le Son.

Well something to potentially look forward to for 2027 at least. For Bobi's sake I hope it works out because he seems very keen, and I think he'd be a good representative for North Macedonia 🇲🇰.

From Undo to Redo.

Dolce Hera, the hero we need, but the one we don't deserve (also excited to see Baryak again)

I mentioned I watched Eurovision in my online French class today and my teacher called me "very cultured".

Now why did they feel the need to invite HIM?

No surprises, the 18 countries that announced their participation beforehand are the 18 competing, making this the most participants at JESC since 2021. The graphic design is certainly a choice though.

It is kind of funny how we sent an artist named Louane to ESC and an artist named Lou to JESC in the same year.

My ranking of JESC 2025 so far (+🇫🇷🇳🇱🇦🇱)

Find someone who loves you as much as Eesti Laul loves changing its format every year.

28 song Greek National Final? I admire their confidence but I question their judgement.

I have never said a bad thing about Spain 🇪🇸 in Eurovision in my life. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

Throwing a temper tantrum and threatening to withdraw due to coming last to basically confirming their participation for the next 3 years. Never change San Marino 🇸🇲.

You will never guess how this video ends.

Have said it before but Cezchia 🇨🇿 are one of my favourite Eurovision countries, so I'm glad to see them still in it.

On one hand Raab cooked up one of the worst National Final formats imaginable last year. On the other hand he still got Baller out of it, so maybe he's not totally clueless.

10 ESC entries which are not fandom favs but that I like Øve Os På Hinanden 🇩🇰 Dance (Our Own Party) 🇲🇹 Eat Your Salad 🇱🇻 Divlji Vjetre 🇭🇷 On a Sunday 🇷🇴 Hope Never Dies 🇨🇿 Cliche Love Song 🇩🇰 Verjamem 🇸🇮 Life Looks Better in Spring 🇨🇾 Todas As Ruas Do Amor 🇵🇹

Guess I live in Adelaide 🇦🇺 now.

Of course there's a split screen.

Oh my god it's the Eurovision 2026 host city.

Innsbruck is Outsbruck.

Wow I'm shocked, no one could've possibly predicted this.

Final prediction is Vienna because it just makes infinitely more sense than Innsbruck.

Maybe the real logo was the friends we made along the way.

Whoever's in charge of graphic design over at the EBU we need to have some words.

Something really funny about Lithuania's 🇱🇹 Head of Delegation going on national television and just casually revealing that we're getting a new Eurovision logo today, and that postparties are now a thing.

The last 2 years we only got the participants list in December and even before that it was usually released in late October/early November to get it in September would be kind of crazy.