Since Songfestival.be took over the organisation of the ESC250 in 2017, the ranking has grown into the annual benchmark for what the Eurovision fan world truly treasures. The tension during the voting period, the sudden shifts in the ranking and the often emotional reactions on social media together create an event that, every year, feels almost as alive as the Contest itself.

Across the different editions, a striking pattern emerges: the list keeps changing, yet certain songs continue to do well year after year.

One thing stands out immediately: almost all countries are represented. In 2021, 50 countries appeared in the ranking, in 2022 there were again 49, and in 2023 the number was 48. The 2024 edition returned to 49 countries.

That means only three countries remain structurally absent: Morocco, Andorra and Belarus, while Monaco unexpectedly re-entered the list in 2024 thanks to a spectacular rise by Séverine Ferrer.

A class of its own

Sweden remains in a class of its own. Although the country fell back from 25 entries in 2021 to 17 in 2022 and lost a few more in 2023, it made a strong comeback in 2024 with 16 entries.

Italy often occupies second place, with peaks such as 16 entries in 2023. Spain and Norway take turns in the sub-top, while Belgium and the Netherlands usually fluctuate between five and seven entries.

Decades on the rise and in decline

The spread per decade says at least as much about the public’s taste. The early Eurovision years are slowly fading from view. The 1950s managed to hold on until 2023 thanks to Domenico Modugno, but disappeared completely from the list in 2024.

The 1960s and 1970s maintain a limited but stable presence, while the 1980s and especially the 1990s regularly flare up thanks to a few timeless classics.

Still, it is consistently the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s that dominate the ranking. In 2021, for example, there were 104 songs from the 2010s, and even in the more recent editions those entries remain massively represented.

The 2020s — even though the decade is only halfway — are now surging forward thanks to a much younger voting audience: in 2024 there were 93 songs from the 2020s in the list, an increase of twelve compared to the previous year.

The rise of English and the fate of other languages

English remains the undisputed giant within the ESC250. In 2023, 138 songs were at least partly in English; in 2024 that number rose further to 143. Italian and French follow at a considerable distance, while other languages only appear sporadically.

Dutch consistently manages to secure two entries: one year with De diepte and Hemel en aarde, another with De diepte and Europapa. Completely unique remains Sanomi, the only song in a fictional language that continues to hold its ground year after year.

Climbers, fallers and unexpected comebacks

Every edition of the ESC250 brings a series of eye-catching twists, often through huge jumps on the ranking. In 2024, Yugoslavia 1984 was the biggest climber, leaping 896 places. Monaco 2006 followed with +819, while Slovenia 2016 gained no fewer than 707 places.

Big fallers are just as common. Spain 2007 suffered a dramatic drop of 389 places in 2024, while Montenegro 2008 in that same year even lost 899 places outside the list itself.

The 2023 edition told a similar story, with the Netherlands 1978 falling 1,228 places and Belarus 2005 losing 1,067. In contrast, Spain 2007 made a successful comeback that year, returning to the list with a gain of 452 places.

In 2022, two fan favourites from 2021 collapsed: both Sugar and Discoteque plummeted by 137 places. The biggest climber that year was Romania 1998, which rose by 1,067 positions.

The fate of Eurovision winners

Winners form a story of their own. In 2021 there were 36 winners in the list, in 2022 that number dropped to 31, in 2023 it went back up to 36, and in 2024 there were once again 31. The composition, however, keeps changing.

Some winners disappear temporarily — Charlotte Nilsson missed the list in 2023 but returned in 2024 — while others seem to have shifted to the background for good. Gigliola Cinquetti, Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan, Nicole, the Olsen Brothers and even Modugno have recently had to give up ground.

Loreen remains the undisputed queen of this ranking. No artist dominates the ESC250 like she does: ten times number one with Euphoria, two top-three finishes with Tattoo and, last year, even the top two entirely in her name. That keeps her far ahead of strong winners such as Måneskin, Duncan Laurence or Jamala.

A list that lives and keeps changing

The ESC250 is never a static monument. You can see that in the influx of new songs. In 2023 there were 47 newcomers; in 2024 there were another 44.

Every year, dozens of songs disappear from the list while others enter it, often helped by new voting campaigns, viral moments or the influence of fan communities. Each year, hundreds of songs end up with no points at all: 155 in 2023, 126 in 2024.

One constant, however, remains: the ESC250 reflects not only today’s taste, but also the collective memory of the fans. It is an annual battle between nostalgia and the present, between the favourites of yesterday and the icons of tomorrow.

Voting for the ESC250 is still open until 7 December at 12:00 (noon).