Know Your Numbers 2026 Edition - Part 2

Eurovision Voting Analysis: High Scores, Top-3 Patterns and National Tendencies

Every year, Eurovision delivers memorable performances, dramatic scoreboards and endless debate about how countries vote. While final rankings tell one story, a deeper understanding comes from examining where nations place their highest scores — the famous 12, 10 and 8 points.

This study focuses on the Top-3 scores awarded by each country through both the jury vote and the public televote. These numbers help explain how different countries approach voting — whether they reward consensus favourites, regional neighbours, diaspora-linked acts, or entries that appeal to distinct national tastes.

By keeping the full statistical structure for each country, we can compare voting behaviour more accurately and identify long-term trends.

In Part 1, I looked at Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria and Azerbaijan.

Part 2 continues the journey with Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia and Denmark — six countries with very different voting identities, from highly consistent consensus voters to nations where geography and long-standing cultural ties clearly shape the destination of those crucial high scores.

 

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Belgium

Jury Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 5/9
Jury Winner in the Top-3: 8/9
Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 7/9
Jury Top-3 entries included in the total of Top-3s: 16/27

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 19

Number of countries awarded 12 points: 7

12 Points Distribution

Austria x3
Australia x1
Sweden x1
Italy x1
Switzerland x1
United Kingdom x1
France x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

Italy 3/9
Sweden 3/9
France 3/9
Austria 3/6
Switzerland 3/6

Public Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 4/9
Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 7/9
Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 8/9
Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 17/27

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 13
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 7

12 Points Distribution

Israel x2
Netherlands x2
Poland x1
Portugal x1
France x1
Ukraine x1
Finland x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

France 6/9
Netherlands 5/9
Israel 3/9

Overview

Belgium is one of the more reliable countries when it comes to rewarding the overall favourites with high scores. The jury tends to spread its support across western European entries, while the televote shows a clearer pattern, with France and the Netherlands regularly featuring strongly. More recently, Israel has also emerged as a notable televote favourite.

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Bulgaria

Jury Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 1/5
Jury Winner in the Top-3: 1/5
Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 1/5
Jury Top-3 entries included in the total of Top-3s: 2/15

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 13
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 4

12 Points Distribution

Austria x2
Armenia x1
Moldova x1
Greece x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

Austria 2/5
Greece 2/5

Public Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 3/5
Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 4/5
Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 4/5
Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 9/15

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 12
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 5

12 Points Distribution

Ukraine x1
Italy x1
Cyprus x1
France x1
Russia x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

Moldova 2/5
Ukraine 2/5
France 2/5

Overview

Bulgaria has been something of a hit-and-miss country when it comes to jury voting, with support split between western and eastern entries and some signs of tactical voting during the late 2010s when Bulgaria itself was among the contenders. The televote has been far more accurate, with the bulk of high scores going to regional neighbours and familiar eastern European favourites.

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Croatia

Jury Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 1/9
Jury Winner in the Top-3: 5/9
Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 2/9
Jury Top-3 entries included in the total of Top-3s: 11/27

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 20
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 6

12 Points Distribution

Italy x4
Portugal x1
Serbia x1
Lithuania x1
Hungary x1
Australia x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

Italy 4/9
Switzerland 2/9
Portugal 2/9
Israel 2/9

Public Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 0/8
Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 5/8
Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 2/8
Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 16/24

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 14
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 5

12 Points Distribution

Serbia x5
Estonia x1
Slovenia x1
Italy x1
Hungary x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

Serbia 6/8
Italy 4/8
Slovenia 3/8
Ukraine 3/8

Overview

Croatian juries cast a very wide net, with 20 different countries appearing in their Top-3 over the period, but there is still a visible preference for Italy and other western entries. Interestingly, Serbia has yet to receive a jury Top-3 placing despite dominating Croatia’s televote. In the public vote, neighbours clearly take over, with Serbia by far the strongest long-term favourite.

Croatia is also one of only three countries in the 2026 line-up yet to award a televote winner the full 12 points, alongside Montenegro and Greece.

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Cyprus

Jury Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 1/9
Jury Winner in the Top-3: 3/9
Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 3/9
Jury Top-3 entries included in the total of Top-3s: 8/27

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 15
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 4

12 Points Distribution

Greece x5
Sweden x2
Croatia x1
Russia x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

Greece 5/9
Italy 4/9
Australia 3/9
Sweden 2/9
France 2/9

Public Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 1/9
Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 5/9
Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 1/9
Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 12/27

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 12
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 4

12 Points Distribution

Greece x5
Bulgaria x2
Israel x1
Ukraine x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

Greece 6/9
Israel 4/9
Ukraine 4/9

Overview

If there is one country that consistently rewards its closest friends, it is Cyprus. The jury combines its traditional preference for Greece with a wider western European spread, while the televote is even more predictable, with Greece, Israel, Ukraine and regional neighbours dominating the high scores.

Cyprus has also delivered the exact same televote Top-3 in the same order in each of the last two years — Greece, Israel, Ukraine — and it would likely have been three in a row had Greece qualified in 2023.

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Czechia

Jury Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 2/9
Jury Winner in the Top-3: 4/9
Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 4/9
Jury Top-3 entries included in the total of Top-3s: 10/27

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 19
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 6

12 Points Distribution

Ukraine x2
Portugal x2
Sweden x2
Germany x1
Israel x1
United Kingdom x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

Sweden 6/9
France 2/9
United Kingdom 2/9
Portugal 2/9
Ukraine 2/9

Public Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 1/9
Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 8/9
Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 4/9
Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 15/27

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 16
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 4

12 Points Distribution

Ukraine x6
Bulgaria x1
Moldova x1
Russia x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

Ukraine 7/9
Israel 4/9
Moldova 2/9

Overview

Czechia’s jury voting leans strongly westward, but its televote has been more successful at identifying high-ranking Eurovision entries. Much of that is driven by Ukraine, which dominates Czech televote history.

One particularly striking trend: Czechia has yet to award a western country a televote 12 points, despite placing the televote winner in its Top-3 in eight of the last nine editions.

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Denmark

Jury Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 3/9
Jury Winner in the Top-3: 7/9
Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 6/9
Jury Top-3 entries included in the total of Top-3s: 13/27

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 17
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 6

12 Points Distribution

Sweden x3
Switzerland x2
Latvia x1
Greece x1
Germany x1
Ukraine x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

Sweden 4/9
Australia 3/9
Switzerland 3/9
Finland 2/9
Germany 2/9

Public Vote

Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 4/9
Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 5/9
Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 5/9
Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 12/27

Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 15
Number of countries awarded 12 points: 7

12 Points Distribution

Sweden x3
Croatia x1
Finland x1
Ukraine x1
Iceland x1
Norway x1
Germany x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

Sweden 7/9
Norway 5/9
Iceland 2/9
Israel 2/9

Overview

Denmark’s voting profile is shaped strongly by Nordic ties. Sweden is the clear long-term favourite, collecting the most 12 points in both jury and televote.

The jury is slightly more open, spreading support across a broader European field, while the televote remains much more geographically focused, with Nordic neighbours regularly taking the biggest scores.

Know Your Numbers 2026 Edition - Part 1

 

Eurovision Voting Analysis: High Scores, Top-3 Patterns and National Tendencies

Every year, Eurovision delivers memorable performances, dramatic scoreboards and endless debate about how countries vote. While final rankings tell one story, a deeper understanding comes from examining where nations place their highest scores — the famous 12, 10 and 8 points.

This study focuses on the Top-3 scores awarded by each country through both the jury vote and the public televote. These numbers help explain how different countries approach voting, whether they reward consensus favourites, regional neighbours, diaspora-linked acts, or entries that appeal to distinct national tastes.

By keeping the full statistical structure for each country, we can compare voting behaviour more accurately and identify long-term trends.

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Albania

Jury Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 5/9
• Jury Winner in the Top-3: 6/9
• Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 6/9
• Jury Top-3 entries included in the total of Top-3s: 13/27
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 14
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 6

12 Points Distribution

• Italy x3
• Switzerland x2
• Australia x1
• North Macedonia x1
• Sweden x1
• France x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

• Italy 5/9
• Switzerland 4/6
• France 3/9

Public Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 1/9
• Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 4/9
• Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 2/9
• Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 10/27
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 15
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 6

12 Points Distribution

• Italy x3
• Greece x2
• Australia x1
• Russia x1
• Switzerland x1
• Croatia x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

• Italy 9/9
• Greece 3/6
• Croatia 2/4
• Bulgaria 2/5

Overview

Albania shows a clear long-term preference for Italy in both voting groups. The juries tend to follow broader Eurovision consensus choices, while the televote more strongly rewards regional and neighbouring countries.

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Armenia

Jury Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 1/8
• Jury Winner in the Top-3: 4/8
• Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 8/8
• Jury Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 12/24
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 13
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 5

12 Points Distribution

• France x3
• Sweden x2
• Portugal x1
• Spain x1
• Israel x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

• France 3/8
• Sweden 3/8
• Italy 3/8
• Portugal 3/7

Public Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 1/8
• Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 4/8
• Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 3/8
• Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 9/24
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 13
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 5

12 Points Distribution

• Russia x2
• Cyprus x2
• Estonia x2
• Israel x1
• France x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

• France 4/8
• Cyprus 3/6

Overview

Armenia has one of the strongest jury records for rewarding elite-performing entries, having always given its jury 12 points to a song that finished in the jury Top-3. The public vote is more selective, with stronger support for culturally connected countries.

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Australia

Jury Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 0/8
• Jury Winner in the Top-3: 2/8
• Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 4/9
• Jury Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 9/26
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 20
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 7

12 Points Distribution

• Sweden x2
• Belgium x2
• United Kingdom x1
• Malta x1
• Spain x1
• Ireland x1
• Greece x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

• Sweden 3/9

Public Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 5/9
• Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 6/9
• Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 7/9
• Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 12/27
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 16
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 7

12 Points Distribution

• Israel x3
• Belgium x1
• Moldova x1
• Norway x1
• Iceland x1
• Ukraine x1
• Finland x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

• Israel 3/8
• Sweden 3/9

Overview

Australia’s juries are highly independent and widely spread, having included 20 countries in their jury Top-3 rankings. The televote is more aligned with broader public trends and often favours Nordic, Baltic and Israeli entries.

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Austria

Jury Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 4/7
• Jury Winner in the Top-3: 7/7
• Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 6/9
• Jury Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 14/25
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 17
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 9

12 Points Distribution

• Finland x1
• Switzerland x1
• Italy x1
• United Kingdom x1
• Iceland x1
• North Macedonia x1
• Israel x1
• Netherlands x1
• Australia x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

• Switzerland 3/6
• Netherlands 3/7
• Sweden 3/9

Public Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 4/9
• Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 7/9
• Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 5/9
• Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 12/27
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 19
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 9

12 Points Distribution

• Germany x1
• Croatia x1
• Finland x1
• Ukraine x1
• Serbia x1
• Switzerland x1
• Czechia x1
• Portugal x1
• Poland x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

• Italy 4/9
• Serbia 3/7

Overview

Austria is one of the most evenly spread voters in Eurovision. It has awarded 12 points to a different country each year in both jury and televote, making it one of the least predictable countries.

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Azerbaijan

Jury Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Jury Winners: 2/9
• Jury Winner in the Top-3: 5/9
• Jury Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 3/9
• Jury Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 8/27
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 19
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 6

12 Points Distribution

• Russia x3
• Israel x2
• Belarus x1
• Albania x1
• United Kingdom x1
• Switzerland x1

Most Voted Countries in Jury Top-3

• Russia 3/3
• Albania 2/5
• Israel 2/8
• Ukraine 2/8
• Sweden 2/9
• Italy 2/9

Public Vote

• Sets of 12 points awarded to Public Vote Winners: 5/9
• Public Vote Winner in the Top-3: 8/9
• Public Vote Top-3 entries awarded with sets of 12 points: 6/9
• Public Vote Top-3 entries included in total Top-3s: 17/27
• Number of countries voted in the Top-3: 17
• Number of countries awarded 12 points: 5

12 Points Distribution

• Israel x4
• Russia x2
• Croatia x1
• Ukraine x1
• Bulgaria x1

Most Voted Countries in Public Top-3

• Israel 4/8
• Ukraine 4/8

Overview

Azerbaijan shows one of the clearest jury-televote contrasts. The juries are less aligned with overall frontrunners, while the televote strongly backs popular mainstream contenders, especially Israel and Ukraine.

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What These Patterns Tell Us About Eurovision

1. Juries and Publics Often Behave Like Two Different Countries

In many nations, jury and televote choices differ substantially. Albania and Azerbaijan are especially clear examples.

2. Some Countries Vote Predictably

Italy receiving Albania’s televote Top-3 every year demonstrates how recurring preferences matter over time.

3. Others Are Highly Volatile

Austria spreads support widely, making annual prediction difficult.

4. Consensus Winners Still Matter

Countries whose publics repeatedly reward eventual winners often act as strong indicators of broader momentum.

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Why This Matters for Future Eurovision Predictions

When building forecasts, betting models or scoreboard simulations, looking only at past total points can miss important nuance. Top-3 allocation history helps identify:

• Reliable allies
• Jury-safe territories
• Televote hotspots
• Surprise point sources
• Countries resistant to hype

These details often become decisive in close contests.

Final Conclusions

These figures highlight that Eurovision voting is rarely random. Some countries reward excellence as recognised across Europe, others prioritise cultural affinity, and many split sharply between jury professionalism and public emotion.

Studying Top-3 score allocations offers one of the most effective ways to understand future Eurovision voting behaviour, identify dependable allies, and anticipate scoreboard momentum before the first points are even announced.