James Stephenson

I tell stories about the world's biggest Song Contest.

Presenter of the Eurovision Uncovered podcast on ESC Insight, and the creator of The Model.

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

You've never seen a national final entry like this before.

#Eurovision Uncovered: Croatia 🇭🇷

Out now.

https://t.co/QKofmC5WBC

[Gabe @esc_gabe]

Dara has now publicly contradicted Philip Kirkorov’s repeated efforts to take credit for Bulgaria’s Eurovision victory:

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

Having been to Sanremo this year, I know just how separate it is from Eurovision - it isn't even really a blip on the radar.

But Italy's track record is the best of any country in the past decade potentially BECAUSE of that.

It's a bold choice that changes Sanremo massively.

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

🚨🇮🇹 La Repubblica reports the winner of Festival di Sanremo will no longer have the right to compete at #Eurovision.

A separate night (Thursday) will be dedicated to choosing Italy's Eurovision act, with each song performed with a Contest-style staging.

https://t.co/SDwq4TvsEo

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

🚨 ESC Insight again tested the limits of #Eurovision voting during this year's Grand Final.

Our reporter cast 80 votes in 10 minutes, but some cards used in the semi were rejected in the final.

We estimate one person could have cast up to 1280 votes.

https://t.co/DW7S0nocNH

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

@180isin @bequietharriet Congratulations! Would love to read this as well if that becomes a possibility 🎉

[Ben Robertson @Bensvision]

Bulgaria won #eurovision 2026

It is, arguably, the biggest shock winner of all time at the Song Contest.

Here's my article showing how 'Bangaranga' turned from mid-table wannabe to a winner by a record ever margin within the space of four days in Vienna

https://t.co/HDvHzWP4E3

[Kubas @kubasratzka]

Here it is! Watch our story through James's eyes and get to know everything that comes along with trying to make it to Eurovision. In the end, what we built is much bigger than any contest in the world.

https://t.co/jYiRGfOR1k

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

https://t.co/QKofmC5WBC

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

🇭🇷🇸🇪🇮🇹 Three countries.
🥇🥈🥉 Three national finals.

Three stories that have never been told quite like this 📕

Eurovision Uncovered returns tonight with a documentary more than a year in the making: backstage at Dora with Fenksta in Croatia.

Launches 20:00CET on ESC Insight!

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

One hour to go - link is live!

https://t.co/QKofmC5WBC

[Kubas @kubasratzka]

Tonight at 20:00 CET, James will take you through our journey. Last year it was just a documentary, but it grew into something much more. We are so glad to be a part of it and show you how much work everyone puts in for a chance to make it to Eurovision & everything around it. 💚

[The David Horton Show @davidhortonshow]

Folks, seriously give this a watch....

Knowing James the way I do - this will be incredible <3

[Dan @vDanDesign]

two years in the making !
james has done an outstanding job, check it out at 8 pm!!!

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

@SirBaloney That was what I was going for! I have a lot of friends in Hungary, that's a fun word I've picked up from them.

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

🚨🇭🇺 Hungary’s return to #Eurovision was a promise the new leader Peter Magyar made during his campaign - to reverse the decision made by Fidesz to withdraw in 2019.

If Hungary does come back to the Contest, it’s been a long time coming. We missed you, bazmeg.

[ESC Discord @ESCdiscord]

🇭🇺 Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar will instruct the minister or State Secretary for Culture to scrutinize opportunities for Hungary to return to #Eurovision.

"There is no sense not to participate in such a contest."

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

🚨🇲🇰 BREAKING:

North Macedonia is expected to return to #Eurovision in 2027.

The Director of the country's broadcaster MRT, Zoran Ristoski, says he has held meetings with the EBU and "can say with certainty" that the country will send a song to Sofia 🇧🇬

https://t.co/714mn4IuAt

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

@Tobbe_Ek Tack så mycket for the correction Tobbe!

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

🤖 AI could be coming to #Eurovision faster than we think.

Swedish songwriter Anders Wrethov has confirmed to Aftonbladet that two of this year's Melfest finalists, Meira Omar and Brandsta City Slackers, competed with songs partially made using AI.

https://t.co/eLdfqJdenE

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

@_allthingsadam_ For me? We get the chance to shine a light on the Contest - good parts and bad. Eurovision is complex, and so should we be. There can be light in something even when there is darkness.

[James Stephenson @JamesMakesStuff]

@nohighwaycowboy Genuinely felt a lightbulb go off reading this.

If 'Bangaranga' has a legacy, it could definitely be that great choreo is as important as a great song and great vocal in the Eurovision race.