How Televoting Works

What Is the Televote?

The televote represents the voice of the public. Viewers across Europe and the rest of the world cast their votes for their favorite performances using phone calls, SMS, official apps, and online platforms. Since 2026, the televote continues to be a crucial part of the contest, but with a major change: its reveal format has been completely redesigned.

How Viewers Cast Their Votes

Depending on the country, viewers can vote through:

• Phone calls
• SMS
• Official Eurovision app
• Online voting (in eligible regions)

Each viewer can vote multiple times, but never for their own country. International audiences outside Europe contribute to a separate “Rest of the World” televote.

Televote in the Semi‑Finals (2026 Update)

From 2023 to 2025, the semi‑finals were decided exclusively by the public. However, in 2026 the EBU reinstated the jury vote in the semi‑finals.

This means:

• Semi‑final results are now 50% jury + 50% televote
• The jury ranking and televote ranking are combined
• The top 10 countries qualify

This change was introduced to reduce unpredictability and ensure that technically strong entries are not eliminated early.

How Televote Points Are Calculated

After the voting window closes, all public votes are counted and converted into a ranking. The top 10 songs receive points using the Eurovision scoring system:

1–8, 10 and 12 points

Each country awards its own set of televote points. The “Rest of the World” acts as an additional country with its own 12 points.

The New 2026 Televote Reveal Format

Since 2026, the televote is no longer revealed country by country. Instead, all televote points are combined into a single global televote score for each finalist.

This means:

• The televote is revealed in one dramatic block
• Points are announced from lowest to highest
• The final televote 12 points no longer exist — instead, the highest televote score is revealed last

Because all televote points are aggregated, the totals are much larger:

• Typical televote scores range from 0 to 350 points
• Exceptional televote favorites can exceed 400 points

This system increases suspense and makes the televote reveal the most intense moment of the night.

Why the Televote Matters

The televote reflects the emotional connection between the audience and the performers. It rewards:

• Viral performances
• Fan favorites
• Songs with strong staging
• Acts with international appeal

While the jury focuses on technical and artistic quality, the televote captures the heart of the contest: the public’s passion.

How Televoting Shapes the Final Results

The televote can dramatically change the scoreboard. A song that receives modest jury support can skyrocket with a strong televote. Conversely, a jury favorite may fall if the public does not connect with it.

With the 2026 reveal system, the final televote announcement often determines the winner, creating the iconic Eurovision tension that fans love.