Broadcasters from forty-one countries have participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest since it started in 2003, with winning songs coming from twelve of those countries. The contest, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is held annually between members of the union who participate representing their countries. Broadcasters submit songs to the event where they are performed live by the performer(s) aged 9 to 14 they had selected, and cast votes to determine the winning song of the competition.
Participation in the contest is primarily open to all broadcasters with active EBU membership, with only one entrant per country allowed in any given year. To become an active member of the EBU, a broadcaster has to be from a country which is covered by the European Broadcasting Area –that is not limited only to the continent of Europe–, or is a member state of the Council of Europe. [1] Thus, eligibility is not determined by geographic inclusion within Europe, despite the "Euro" in "Eurovision", nor does it have a direct connection with the European Union. Several countries geographically outside the boundaries of Europe have been represented in the contest: Cyprus, Armenia, and Israel, in Western Asia, since 2003, 2007, and 2012 respectively; and Australia making a début in the 2015 contest. In addition, several transcontinental countries with only part of their territory in Europe have been represented: Russia, since 2005; Georgia, since 2007; Azerbaijan, since 2012; and Kazakhstan, which made its first appearance in the 2018 edition. Australia, where the contest has been broadcast since 2003, débuted as a participant in the 2015 edition, as its broadcaster is an EBU associate member and had received special approval from the contest's Reference Group.
The Netherlands is the only country to have entered the contest each year since 2003, while Switzerland have only entered on one occasion, in 2004. Broadcasters from three countries –Slovakia, Monaco, and Bosnia and Herzegovina –have announced their intention to enter the contest before withdrawing prior to the country's début.
The following table lists the countries with a broadcaster that have participated in the contest at least once. Shading indicates countries whose broadcaster have withdrawn from the contest.
Switzerland participated in the contest once, in 2004. [2] France, who also took part that year, returned to the contest in 2018. [3] Denmark, the host country of the first contest in 2003, has not been at the contest since 2005, [4] along with Norway, who also participated in 2003. [5] [6] Poland withdrew after the 2004 contest, due to placing last in both 2003 and 2004, but returned in 2016. [7] United Kingdom withdrew from the contest in 2005, but returned in 2022, and withdrawn again in 2024. [8] Spain, instead, withdrew one year later and returned in 2019. Croatia, the first winner of the contest, returned to the contest in 2014 after seven years out of the contest. [9] However, the country placed last and withdrew again. [10]
Serbia and Montenegro participated once in 2005, [11] but dissolved in 2006. [12] Serbia competed independently from the 2006 contest onwards. [13] Montenegro made their debut as an independent nation in 2014. [14]
The original Scandinavian broadcasters left the contest in 2006 because they found the treatment of the contestants unethical, [15] and revived the MGP Nordic competition, which had not been produced since the Junior Eurovision Song Contest began. [16] Sweden, however, returned to the contest the following year with a new broadcaster, TV4. [17] TV4 did not participate in 2008, [18] but returned in 2009. [19] SVT returned to the contest in 2010, [20] after TV4 withdrew earlier that year. Sweden's most recent participation was in 2014. [21]
Broadcasters of Belarus and Russia were expelled from the EBU in 2021 and 2022 respectively, preventing them from competing in future editions of the contest. [22]
† | Inactive –countries which participated in the past but did not appear in the most recent contest, or will not appear in the upcoming contest |
◇ | Ineligible –countries whose broadcasters are no longer part of the EBU and are therefore ineligible to participate |
‡ | Former –countries which previously participated but no longer exist |
The following countries have broadcasters eligible to participate in the contest, but have never done so. [23] Representatives from the broadcasters in Finland, Hungary, and Iceland have each sent observers to attend past competitions to gauge potential participation in the contest. [25] The Hungarian broadcaster also sent representatives to the 2013 Belarusian national final. [26]
The tables list the participating countries in each decade since the first Junior Eurovision Song Contest was held in 2003.
Sixteen countries participated in the first contest. Since then, the number of entries has fluctuated, peaking at twenty in 2018 and dropping to a low of twelve in 2012, 2013 and 2020.
# | Debutant | The country made its debut during the decade. |
1 | Winner | The country won the contest. |
2 | Second place | The country was ranked second. |
3 | Third place | The country was ranked third. |
X | Remaining places | The country placed from fourth to second last. |
◁ | Last place | The country was ranked last. |
W/D | Withdrawn or disqualified | The country was to participate in the contest, but was disqualified or withdrew. |
U | Upcoming | The country has confirmed participation for the next contest, however, the contest has yet to take place. |
No entry | The country did not enter the contest. |
2003–2009 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Country | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
Armenia # | 2 | X | 2 | |||||
W | ||||||||
Belarus # | X | X | 1 | 2 | 1 | X | X | |
Belgium # | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
W | W | |||||||
Bulgaria # | X | ◁ | ||||||
Croatia # | 1 | 3 | X | X | ||||
Cyprus # | X | X | D | X | X | X | X | |
Denmark # | X | X | X | |||||
France # | X | |||||||
Georgia # | W | X | 1 | X | ||||
W | W | |||||||
Greece # | X | X | X | X | ◁ | X | ||
W | W | |||||||
Latvia # | X | ◁ | X | |||||
W | X | 3 | ||||||
X | X | X | ◁ | X | X | X | ||
Malta # | X | X | ◁ | X | X | X | X | |
X | X | X | X | X | X | 1 | ||
Norway # | X | X | 3 | |||||
Poland # | ◁ | ◁ | ||||||
Portugal # | X | X | ||||||
Romania # | X | X | X | X | X | X | ◁ | |
Russia # | X | 1 | X | X | 2 | |||
Serbia # | X | 3 | X | X | ||||
X | ||||||||
W | ||||||||
Spain # | 2 | 1 | 2 | X | W | |||
Sweden # | X | X | X | 3 | X | X | ||
X | ||||||||
Ukraine # | W | X | X | 2 | X | |||
3 | 2 | X |
2010–2019 | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Country | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
Albania # | ◁ | Х | Х | X | X | X | ||||
1 | Х | 3 | Х | 3 | 2 | 2 | X | X | X | |
Х | Х | 3 | 3 | X | ||||||
Х | Х | X | ||||||||
Х | 3 | Х | 3 | Х | Х | Х | X | X | X | |
Х | Х | Х | ||||||||
Х | 2 | Х | Х | |||||||
◁ | ||||||||||
Х | Х | ◁ | ||||||||
2 | X | |||||||||
Х | 1 | 2 | Х | Х | Х | 1 | 2 | X | X | |
Ireland # | Х | Х | X | X | X | |||||
Israel # | Х | Х | X | |||||||
Italy # | 1 | Х | 3 | X | X | X | ||||
X | 2 | |||||||||
Х | ◁ | |||||||||
Х | Х | |||||||||
Х | 1 | Х | 1 | Х | X | X | ◁ | |||
Moldova # | Х | Х | Х | Х | ||||||
Х | Х | |||||||||
Х | 2 | Х | Х | Х | Х | Х | X | X | X | |
Х | Х | ◁ | ◁ | Х | X | X | X | |||
Х | Х | 1 | 1 | |||||||
X | X | X | ||||||||
2 | Х | Х | Х | Х | Х | Х | 1 | X | X | |
W | Х | Х | Х | |||||||
3 | Х | Х | ◁ | X | X | X | ||||
Slovenia # | Х | 3 | ||||||||
3 | ||||||||||
Х | Х | Х | Х | Х | ||||||
◁ | Х | 1 | 2 | Х | Х | Х | X | X | X | |
Wales # | ◁ | X |
2020s | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
Х | X | X | X | ||
W | 1 | 2 | 3 | X | |
Х | |||||
X | |||||
Х | |||||
X | |||||
Estonia # | X | X | |||
1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | X | |
X | X | 3 | X | 1 | |
Germany # | ◁ | X | X | X | |
X | X | ◁ | X | ||
X | X | X | X | ||
2 | X | X | |||
X | X | ◁ | X | X | |
X | ◁ | X | X | X | |
X | X | X | X | ||
X | 2 | X | X | X | |
X | X | X | 2 | ||
X | X | ||||
◁ | |||||
X | X | X | |||
3 | X | X | 2 | X | |
X | X | X | X | 3 | |
X | X |
There have been a few unsuccessful attempts to participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. For broadcasters to participate, they must be a member of the EBU and register their intention to compete before the deadline specified in the rules of that year's event. Each participating broadcaster pays a fee towards the organisation of the contest. Should a country withdraw from the contest after the deadline, they will still need to pay these fees, and may also incur a fine or temporary ban. [27]
Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of the nineteen countries which applied to enter the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007. [28] As there was a maximum number of eighteen countries permitted to perform, Georgia, the nineteenth country to apply, was unable to participate. However, on 21 June 2007, it was announced that Bosnia and Herzegovina had withdrawn from the contest, enabling Georgia to enter the contest. [29] Once again in 2008, Bosnia and Herzegovina applied to make its debut at the contest along with Azerbaijan and Israel, but all three countries withdrew before the contest took place. [30] While the latter two debuted in 2012, as of 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina is still yet to participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, and has not taken part in the adult contest since 2016. It also remains only ex-Yugoslav country that has not participated in the contest yet.
Prior to 2007, Bosnia and Herzegovina had broadcast the Junior Eurovision Song Contest twice: it provided a delayed broadcast of 2004 contest, [31] and broadcast the 2006 contest live. [32] The contest was also broadcast live in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2007, 2008 and 2009. [33] [34] In 2010 and 2011, BHRT organised a delayed broadcast of the contest. [35] [36]
Monegasque broadcaster TMC expressed an interest in participating in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005, [37] however, plans did not come to fruition due to scheduling problems and harsh citizenship laws and thus they did not participate. They had stated an interest again to take part in Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2006, however at the end they did not take part in the contest. [38]
On 21 November 2002, Slovenská televízia (STV) was drawn as one of the participants in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003, representing Slovakia. [39] However, they later announced that they would withdraw from the contest. [40]
On 7 June 2019, according to Eurovision blog Eurofestivales, press spokesperson Erika Rusnáková for Slovak broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) stated that they were evaluating and supervising the possibility of debuting at the 2019 contest. [41] However, on 10 June 2019, RTVS confirmed that they would not debut in the 2019 contest. [42]
In April 2021, the Slovak broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) confirmed that they had "not closed the door to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021", signifying that they may possibly make their debut. [43] However, Slovakia later announced that they would not debut in the 2021 contest in Paris. [44]
The contest has been broadcast in several countries that do not compete.
Country | Broadcaster(s) | Year(s) |
---|---|---|
Andorra | Ràdio i Televisió d'Andorra (RTVA) | 2006 [45] |
Argentina | Radio WU | 2014 [46] |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | BHT 1 | 2004 [31] |
2006–2011 [32] [33] [34] | ||
Finland | Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) | 2003 [47] |
Iceland | Ríkisútvarpið (RÚV) | 2003, [48] 2021 [49] |
Kosovo | Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) | 2003, [50] 2013 [51] |
Luxembourg | RTL Lëtzebuerg | 2024 [52] |
New Zealand | World FM | 2014–2016 [53] [54] [55] |
Singapore | Music Radio | 2014–2016 [53] [54] [55] |
United States | KCGW-LP | 2014, 2016 [53] [55] |
KLZY | 2016 [55] | |
KMJY | ||
WCGD | ||
WUSB | 2015 [54] | |
WXDR-LP | 2014 [53] | |
In 2005, France had organized the selections but they withdrew
Croatia participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest five times, and won the inaugural edition in 2003. Croatian broadcaster Hrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT), a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), were responsible for the country's participation. Croatia participated in the first four editions, from 2003 to 2006, organising a national final to select the country's entrant. The first representative to participate for Croatia was Dino Jelusić with the song "Ti si moja prva ljubav", which finished in first place out of sixteen participating entries, with a score of 134 points. Croatia was absent from the contest between 2007 and 2013, but HRT decided to return to the contest in 2014 and selected their entry internally. In 2014, Josie finished in last place for Croatia with the song "Game Over", after which HRT again withdrew from competing the following year.
The United Kingdom first participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest at the inaugural 2003 edition which took place in Copenhagen, Denmark. ITV, a member organisation of the United Kingdom Independent Broadcasting (UKIB) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), was responsible for the selection process of their participation from 2003 to 2005. The United Kingdom used a national selection format, broadcasting a show entitled Junior Eurovision Song Contest: The British Final, for their participation at the contests. The first representative to participate for the nation at the 2003 contest was Tom Morley with the song "My Song For The World", which finished in third place out of sixteen participating entries, achieving a score of one hundred and eighteen points. The United Kingdom withdrew from competing after the 2005 contest, but returned to the contest in 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia, with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) replacing ITV as the country's broadcaster. The country withdrew again from the 2024 contest in Madrid.
Denmark has competed in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest three times. Danish broadcaster DR hosted the first Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, having developed the contest's predecessor MGP Nordic.
Sweden has participated at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest eleven times since its inception in 2003. Two broadcasters have been responsible for Sweden's entries at Junior Eurovision – from 2003 to 2005, Sveriges Television (SVT) was responsible, before withdrawing with other Nordic broadcasters. From 2006 to 2009, commercial broadcaster TV4 was responsible for Sweden's entry at the Junior Eurovision.
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.
Cyprus has participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 10 times since debuting at the first contest in 2003. The country's best result was eighth place, which was achieved both at the 2004 and 2006 contests with Marios Tofi and the song "Oneira" and Luis Panagiotou and Christina Christofi and the song "Agoria koritsia" respectively. The national broadcaster Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) has hosted the event for Cyprus once, in 2008 in Limassol.
Belarus has participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in every edition since its inception in 2003 until 2020. The Belarusian Television and Radio Company (BTRC), then a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), has been responsible for the selection process of its participants since its debut. The country hosted the contest at the Minsk-Arena in 2010 and again in 2018.
The participation of Latvia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest first began at the inaugural Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 which took place in Copenhagen, Denmark. Latvijas Televīzija (LTV), a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), were responsible for the selection process of their participation. Latvia used a national selection format, broadcasting shows entitled "Bērnu Eirovīzija" and later "Balss Pavēlnieks", for their participation at the contests. The first representative to participate for the nation at the 2003 contest was Dzintars Čīča with the song "Tu esi vasarā", which finished in ninth place out of sixteen participating entries, achieving a score of thirty-seven points. Latvia were originally absent from the competition from 2006 to 2009. Latvia briefly returned in 2010 and 2011 however again withdrew from competing after the contest held in Yerevan, and have yet to make their return to the contest.
The participation of Serbia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest first began in Bucharest, Romania at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2006, having previously participated in 2005 as part of Serbia and Montenegro. Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) are responsible for the selection process of its entrants. Serbia used the national selection format broadcasting a show titled Izbor za Dečju pesmu Evrovizije for its participation at the contests between 2006 and 2010.
The participation of Portugal in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest started in 2006, when the Junior Eurovision Song Contest took place in Bucharest, Romania, and includes a total of nine appearances. The country was not represented at the contest between 2008 and 2016, their longest absence run, and in 2020. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP), the national public broadcaster and a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), have been responsible for the selection process of their participating artists and entries. Portugal's first representative was Pedro Madeira with the song "Deixa-me sentir", which finished in second-last place out of fifteen entries. Their worst result to date came in 2018 when Rita Laranjeira placed 18th out of 20 entries with the song "Gosto de tudo ". The country's current best result is a second place obtained by Victoria Nicole with the song "Esperança" at the 2024 edition, held in Madrid, Spain.
France has participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest eight 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".
The participation of Israel in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest first began in Amsterdam, Netherlands, at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2012. The Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) were responsible for the selection process of their participation in 2012 and 2016, with the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC) taking over participation from 2018. The first representative to participate for the nation was Kids.il with the song "Let the Music Win", which finished in eighth place out of twelve participating entries, achieving a score of 68 points. Israel did not return to the contest in 2013, and also sat out of the 2014 and 2015 contests. However, following their success at the 2015 and 2016 Eurovision Song Contests, the IBA expressed an interest in making a return to competing at Junior Eurovision. Israel returned to the contest in 2016, with their entrant being selected internally. Israel then withdrew from the contest in 2017, before returning again in 2018, and withdrawing again in 2019.
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 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.
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.
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 2018 was the sixteenth edition of the annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest, organised by the Belarusian Television and Radio Company (BTRC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It took place in the Belarusian capital city, Minsk on 25 November 2018 at the Minsk-Arena. It was the second time that the contest was held in Belarus, after it staged the 2010 edition at the same venue.