| Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country |  Italy | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Internal selection | |||
| Selection date(s) |
| |||
| Selected artist(s) | Simone Grande | |||
| Selected song | "Pigiama party" | |||
| Italy in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
| ||||
Italy is set to take part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Madrid, Spain, with "Pigiama party" performed by Simone Grande. The Italian broadcaster Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI) internally selected the country's entry for the contest.
Prior to the 2024 contest, Italy had participated in the contest nine times since its first entry in the 2014 contest, winning the contest with its debut entry " Tu primo grande amore " performed by Vincenzo Cantiello, marking its only win to this point. The nation opted not to take part in the contest in 2020 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic). [1] In 2022, Rai Gulp –which had previously been in charge of Italy's participation in the contest –was replaced within the structures of RAI by the flagship channel Rai 1, citing a new division of schedules and a desire for such events to reach a wider audience; [2] [3] this led to a huge increase of viewers watching the show in Italy. [4] In 2023, Melissa and Ranya competed for Italy with the song "Un mondo giusto", which ended up in 11th place out of 16 entries with 81 points. [5]
During the final of the second season of The Voice Kids in December 2023, host Antonella Clerici revealed that one of the show's twelve finalists would go on to represent Italy in the 2024 contest; this was misinterpreted by much of the Italian press as a confirmation of the show's winner, Simone Grande, being selected to represent the nation, which had not been at that point confirmed by RAI. [6] On 10 September 2024, RAI announced that it had internally selected the Italian entrant for the contest and that they would be revealed on 19 September. [7] Grande (who was, at the time of his selection, a twelve-year-old) was eventually announced as the entrant with the song "Pigiama party". [8] [9] [10]
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place at the Caja Mágica in Madrid, Spain on 16 November 2024. In Italy, the event will be aired on Rai 2 and RaiPlay, with commentary provided by Mario Acampa ; Rai Kids will be responsible for the television production of the Italian broadcast. [9] [11]
The Netherlands has participated in every edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest since its inception in 2003. The country has won the competition on one occasion; in 2009, with the song "Click Clack" by Ralf Mackenbach. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has been responsible for the participation, selecting the nation's entrant through the national final Junior Songfestival. The Netherlands is the only country to have taken part in every edition of the contest.
The participation of Spain in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest first began at the inaugural Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 which took place in Copenhagen, Denmark. The current Spanish participant broadcaster in the contest is Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE). Spain used a national selection format, broadcasting a show entitled Eurojunior, for their participation at the contests. The first representative to participate for the nation at the 2003 contest was Sergio with the song "Desde el cielo", which finished in second place out of sixteen participating entries, achieving a score of 125 points. Spain did not participate from 2007 to 2018, but returned to the contest in 2019.
The participation of Portugal in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest first began at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 which took place in Bucharest, Romania. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP), a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), were responsible for the selection process of their participation. Portugal used a national selection format, broadcasting a show entitled "Festival da Canção Junior", for their participation at the contests. This was a junior version of Festival da Canção, the national music competition organised by broadcaster RTP to choose the Portuguese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. The first representative to participate for the nation at the 2006 contest was Pedro Madeira with the song "Deixa-me sentir", which finished in second-last place out of fifteen participating entries, achieving a score of twenty-two points. Their worst result to date has been achieved by Rita Laranjeira with her song "Gosto de tudo " in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 where she placed 18th. Portugal withdrew from competing in 2008, and returned in 2017. They withdrew again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Portugal returned in 2021, where they achieved 11th place, their best result up to that point. In 2022 the country surpassed this record and reached 8th place.
France has participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest seven times, debuting in Lillehammer, Norway, at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004. France Télévisions, a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is responsible for the selection process of their participation. The first representative to participate for the nation was Thomas Pontier with the song "Si on voulait bien", which finished in sixth place out of eighteen participating entries, achieving a score of seventy-eight points. France did not participate after 2004, and made its return to the contest in 2018, 14 years later. France has won the contest on three occasions: in 2020, with Valentina and the song "J'imagine", in 2022, with Lissandro and the song "Oh Maman!", and in 2023, with Zoé Clauzure and the song "Cœur".
Armenia has participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest since 2007. Armenian Public Television (ARMTV), a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), have been responsible for the selection process of their participants since their debut.
Albania debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2012. Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), has been responsible for the selection process of their participants since their debut.
The participation of Azerbaijan in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest first began at the tenth edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 which took place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. İctimai Television (İTV), a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), were responsible for the selection process of their participation. Azerbaijan originally used a national final format for their participation at the 2012 contest. The first representatives to participate for the nation at the 2012 contest were Omar & Suada with the song "Girls and Boys ", which finished in eleventh place out of twelve participating entries. After participating for a second time in 2013 and finishing seventh, İTV withdrew from the contest in 2014 for unspecified reasons. The country returned to participate in 2018 where they placed sixteenth in a field of twenty, before withdrawing once again for a further two years. Azerbaijan returned to the 2021 contest in Paris, France, with İTV internally selected Sona Azizova to represent the nation with "One Of Those Days". Azizova achieved Azerbaijan's highest placing to date, achieving fifth place in a field of 19. İTV then withdrew again from the 2022 contest in Yerevan, Armenia and are yet to return.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2014 was the 12th edition of the annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, and took place, for the first time, in Malta. This was the third time that the contest was hosted by the previous year's winning country. Maltese national broadcaster PBS was the host broadcaster for the event. The final took place on 15 November 2014 and was in the Malta Shipbuilding in Marsa, near Valletta. Moira Delia, a Maltese television personality, hosted the show, marking the first time in Junior Eurovision history that there was only one presenter of the show.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 was the thirteenth edition of the annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, and took place, for the first time, in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian national broadcaster BNT was the host broadcaster for the event. The final took place on 21 November 2015 and was held at the Arena Armeec in Sofia. Poli Genova, a Bulgarian singer and former representative of Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, hosted the show. A total of seventeen countries participated, with Australia and Ireland making their debuts. Albania and Macedonia returned after being absent since the 2012 and 2013 contests, respectively. Croatia and Cyprus withdrew after returning in the 2014 edition, while Sweden withdrew for the first time since 2008.
Italy debuted at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest when the twelfth edition of competition was held in Malta in 2014.
Montenegro debuted at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2014, which was held in Marsa, Malta. Prior to its debut as an independent nation, Montenegro participated at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005 as part of Serbia and Montenegro. After taking part in the 2014 and 2015 contests, the nation has not returned to the contest.
Italy selected their first Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2014 entry through an internal selection. On 4 September 2014 it was revealed that Vincenzo Cantiello would represent Italy with the song "Tu primo grande amore".
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016 was the fourteenth edition of the annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which took place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta, Malta. This was the second time that Malta have hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, their first being in 2014. Jon Ola Sand was appointed as the Executive Supervisor for the 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, following the dismissal of the former supervisor, Vladislav Yakovlev.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2017 was the fifteenth edition of the annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, organised by the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It took place on 26 November 2017 at the Olympic Palace, in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. This was the fifth time that the contest was hosted by the previous year's winning country. The visual design and contest slogan, "Shine Bright", were revealed in May 2017.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was the 18th edition of the annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, organised by Telewizja Polska (TVP) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The contest took place on 29 November 2020, and was held in Warsaw, Poland, following the country's victory at the 2019 contest with the song "Superhero" by Viki Gabor. This was the first time the contest was held in the same country for two consecutive years.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 was the 19th edition of the annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, organised by France Télévisions and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The contest was held on 19 December 2021 at La Seine Musicale in Paris, France, following the country's victory at the 2020 contest with the song "J'imagine", performed by Valentina. This was the first time the contest was held in France, as well as the first Eurovision event to be held in the country since Eurovision Young Dancers 1999 in Lyon and the first to be held in Paris since Eurovision Young Dancers 1989.
Italy took part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Paris, France, returning to the competition after a one year absence from the 2020 contest. Italian broadcaster RAI is responsible for the country's participation in the contest. Elisabetta Lizza represented Italy with the song "Specchio ".
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022 was the 20th edition of the annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Public Television Company of Armenia (AMPTV). The contest took place on 11 December 2022 at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex in Yerevan, Armenia, following the country's victory at the 2021 contest with the song "Qami Qami" by Maléna. This was the second time that Armenia hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, the first being in 2011.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is set to be the 22nd edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE). The contest will take place on 16 November 2024 at Caja Mágica in Madrid, Spain, marking the first time that the contest is held in the country as well as the first Eurovision event in Madrid, and Spain in general, since the Eurovision Song Contest 1969. The contest will also be the first since 2015 to be held on a Saturday.
Italy competed in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Nice, France, with Melissa and Ranya performing "Un mondo giusto". Italian broadcaster RAI, responsible for the country's participation, selected its artists and song via an internal selection.