TheJunior Eurovision Song Contest, often known simply asJunior Eurovision, is an international children'ssong competition organised annually by theEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 2003. Each participating broadcaster submits an original song representing its country, to be performed by children aged 9 to 14, and broadcast live to all of them via theEurovision and Euroradio networks, and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine a winner.
The competition is a spin-off theEurovision Song Contest with which it has many similarities. Each participating broadcaster sends an original song lasting three minutes at most, to be performed by children of its choice aged 9 to 14 on the day of the contest, representing its country and competing against the other participating entries.[1] Since 2017, viewers from all around the world are invited to vote for their favourite entries through online voting,[1] and a national jury assembled by each participating broadcaster also vote for their favourites.[2] The overall winner of the contest is the entry that receives the most points after the scores from every country have been collected and totalled. The main differences with the Eurovision Song Contest are that in the junior version, the song must be predominantly in the language of the country it represents, and viewers can vote for their own country. The most recent winning song is "Ce monde" performed byLou Deleuze representingFrance, who won the2025 contest inTbilisi, Georgia.
In addition to the participating countries, the contest has also been broadcast in Finland in 2003 and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2004 and from 2006 to 2011, Andorra in 2006, Iceland in 2021 and Luxembourg in 2024, although these countries have not yet taken part in the contest. Since 2006, the contest has been streamed live on theInternet through the official website of the contest.[3] Australia was invited to participate in the2015 contest, while Kazakhstan was invited in the2018 contest, making it the only major Eurovision event to feature multiple EBU associate member broadcasters.
The origins of the contest date back to 2000 whenDanmarks Radio (DR) held asong contest for Danish children that year and the following year.[4][5] The idea was extended to a Scandinavian song festival in 2002,MGP Nordic, with Denmark, Norway, and Sweden as participants.[6][7] In 2001 and 2002, Polish broadcasterTelewizja Polska (TVP) hosted two pilot editions of an international song contest for children inKonin with the nameEurokonkurs (English:Eurocontest) in 2001 andŚwiatowy Konkurs Piosenki (English:World Song Contest) in 2002 but the whole project was calledEurokonkurs.[8][9] TVP went on to hold further editions in Konin between 2003 and 2006, some time of which after Poland's initial withdrawal from Junior Eurovision Song Contest. In 2006,Eurokonkurs returned asŚwiatowe Talenty (English:World Talents) and was hosted by Dominika Rydz and Weronika Bochat, who represented Poland in2004 as part of girl group KWADro.[10]
In November 2002, theEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU) picked up the idea for a song contest featuring children and opened the competition to all member broadcasters making it a pan-European event. The working title of the programme was "Eurovision Song Contest for Children",[11] branded with the name of the EBU's long-running and already popular song competition, theEurovision Song Contest. DR was asked to host the first edition after its experience with MGP Nordic.[12]
After a successful first contest in Copenhagen, the second faced several location problems. The event originally should have been organised by British broadcasterITV inManchester.[13] ITV then announced that due to financial and scheduling reasons, it would not host the event.[14] It is also thought that another factor to their decision was the previous year's audience ratings for ITV which were below the expected amount.[15] The EBU approached Croatian broadcasterHrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT), who had won the previous contest, to stage the event inZagreb,[16] though it later emerged that HRT had 'forgotten' to book the venue in which the contest would have taken place.[17] It was at this point, with five months remaining until the event would be held, that Norwegian broadcasterNorsk rikskringkasting (NRK) stepped in to host the contest inLillehammer.[17]
Broadcasters have had to bid for the rights to host the contest since 2004 to avoid such problems from happening again. The broadcasters fromBelgium were therefore the first to successfully bid for the rights to host the contest in 2005.[18]
All contests have been broadcast in16:9 widescreen and inhigh definition.[19] All have also had a CD produced with the songs from the show. Between 2003 and 2006, DVDs of the contest were also produced though this ended due to lack of interest.[20]
As of2008, the winner of the contest is decided by 50% televote and 50% national jury vote. The winners of all previous contests had been decided exclusively by televoting. Between 2003 and 2005 viewers had around 10 minutes to vote after all the songs had been performed.[21] Between2006 and2010 the televoting lines were open throughout the programme.[22] Since 2011 viewers vote after all the songs had been performed.[23] Profits made from the televoting during the 2007 and 2008 contests were donated toUNICEF.[24][25]
Prior to 2007, a participating broadcaster's failure in not broadcasting the contest live would incur a fine. Now broadcasters are no longer required to broadcast the contest live, but may transmit it with some delay at a time that is more appropriate forchildren's television broadcast.[26]
The format of the contest has remained relatively unchanged over the course of its history in that the format consists of successive live musical performances by the artists entered by the participating broadcasters. The EBU claims that the aim of the programme is "to promote young talent in the field of popular music, by encouraging competition among the [...] performers".[31]
The programme is usually on a Saturday night in November or December and lasts approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.[31] Between 2016 and 2023, the contest was screened on Sunday afternoon instead.[32]
Traditionally the contest will consist of an opening ceremony in which the performers are welcomed to the event, the performances of the entries, a recap of the songs to help televoting viewers decide which entries to vote for, an interval act usually performed after the televoting has closed, the results of the televoting or back-up jury voting which is then followed by the declaration of the winning song and its reprise. At various points throughout the show, networks may opt out for a few minutes to screen acommercial break.
Since 2008 the winning entry of each contest has been decided by a mixture of televoting and national juries, each counting for fifty per cent of the points awarded by each country.[33] The winners of all previous contests had been decided exclusively by televoting. The ten entries that have received the most votes in each country are awarded points ranging from one to eight, then ten and twelve.[34] These points are then announced live during the programme by a spokesperson appointed by the corresponding participating broadcaster (who, like the performers, is aged between ten and fifteen). Once all participating countries have announced their results, the song that has received the most points is declared the winner of that year's contest.
Until 2013 the winners receive a trophy and a certificate.[2] Between 2013 and 2016 contest the winner, runner-up and third place all won trophies and certificates.[35]
Originally, unlike its adult version, the winning broadcaster did not receive the rights to host the next contest. From 2014 until 2017, the winning broadcaster hadfirst refusal on hosting the following contest. Italy'sRadiotelevisione italiana (RAI) used this clause in 2015 to decline hosting the contest that year after its victory in 2014. On 15 October 2017, the EBU announced a return to the original system in 2018, claiming that it would help provide broadcasters with a greater amount of time to prepare, ensuring the continuation of the contest into the future.[36] However, from 2019, all contests have been hosted by the previous year's winning broadcaster, with the exception of the 2024 contest being hosted by the runner-up of the 2023 contest, Spain'sRadiotelevisión Española (RTVE), after the 2023 winner, France'sFrance Télévisions, declined to host again after hosting in 2021 and 2023.[37]
The contest usually features two presenters, one man and one woman,[38][39] who regularly appear on stage and with the contestants in thegreen room. The presenters are also responsible for repeating the results immediately after the spokesperson of each participating broadcaster to confirm which country the points are being given to. Between 2003 and 2012, the spokespersons gave out the points in the same format as the adult contest, behind a backdrop of a major city of that country in the broadcaster's television studio. From 2013 to 2023, the spokespersons gave the points from their country on the arena stage, as opposed to the adult contest where spokespersons are broadcast live from their respective country (with the exception of 2020, due totravel restrictions related to theCOVID-19 pandemic)[40]. From 2024 onwards, the previous format made a return where the spokespersons give out the points behind a backdrop.
Despite the Junior Eurovision Song Contest being modelled on the format of the Eurovision Song Contest, there are many distinctive differences that are unique to the children's contest. From 2005 to 2015 every contestant was automatically awarded 12 points to prevent the contestants scoring zero points, although ending with 12 points total was in essence the same as receiving zero,[40] however, no entry has ever receivednul points in total scoring.
The song must be written and sung in the national language (or one of the national languages) of the country being represented. However, they can also have a few lines in a different language. The same rule was in the adults' contest from 1966 to 1972 and again from 1977 to 1998. This rule was later changed in 2009 so that up to 25% of a song could be in a different language, usually English. This rule was changed again in 2017, now allowing up to 40% to be in a different language.[41]
Originally the competition was open to children between the ages of 8 and 15,[21] however in 2007 the age range was narrowed so that only children aged 10 to 15 on the day of the contest were allowed to enter.[31] In 2016 the age range was changed again. From now on children aged 9 to 14 on the day of the contest are allowed to enter.
The song submitted into the contest cannot have previously been released commercially and must last 3 minutes at most.[1] The rule stating that performers also must not have previously released music commercially was active from 2003 to 2006.[42] This rule was dropped in 2007 thus allowing already experienced singers and bands in the competition. As a result, NRK chose to withdraw from the contest.[43]
Since 2008, adults have been allowed to assist in the writing of entries.[43] Previously, all writers had to be aged 10 to 15.
Sietse Bakker (center), executive supervisor from 2011 to 2012Vladislav Yakovlev, executive supervisor from 2013 to 2015
The contest is organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), together with the host broadcaster in co-production with all the participating broadcasters. The original executive supervisor of the contest wasSvante Stockselius who also headed the Steering Group that decides on the rules of the contest, which broadcaster hosts the next contest and oversees the entire production of each programme. In 2011, he was succeeded by Sietse Bakker.[44] In 2013, Vladislav Yakovlev took over the position.[45] Yakovlev was dismissed without any clear reason after three contests, and was replaced byJon Ola Sand, who had been Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest since2011.[46] On 30 September 2019, Sand announced his intention to step down as Executive Supervisor and Head of Live Events after theEurovision Song Contest 2020, which was later cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[47]Martin Österdahl was named his successor, starting with the 2020 contest.[48]
Steering Group meetings tend to include the Heads of Delegation whose principal job is to liaise between the EBU and the broadcaster they represent. It is also their duty to make sure that the performers are never left alone without an adult and to "create a team atmosphere amongst the [performers] and to develop their experience and a sense of community."[2]
The table below lists all Executive Supervisors of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest since the first edition (2003):
The 'singing girl' who formed part of the contest logo between 2003 and 2007
Logo used from 2008 to 2014
Logo used from 2015 to 2022
Logo used in 2023 and 2024
The former generic logo was introduced for the2008 contest in Limassol,[49] to create a consistent visual identity. Each year of the contest, the host broadcaster creates a sub-theme which is usually accompanied and expressed with a sub-logo and slogan.
The generic logo was revamped in March 2015, seven years after the first generic logo was created.[50] The logo was used for the first time in the2015 contest in Sofia. The "heart flag" symbol of the adult Eurovision Song Contest was added to the logo in2023.[51] Another revamp came in2025.[52]
Each contest from 2005 to 2024 had a slogan, chosen by the host broadcaster. Based on the slogan, a theme and visual design are developed. From 2025 onwards, “United by Music” is the permanent slogan.
Competed as a part of another country, but never as asovereignty[a]
Participants in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, coloured by decade of debut
All active member broadcasters of the EBU are permitted to take part in the contest,[2] though the contest has been broadcast in several non-participating countries.[13][54] Associate member broadcasters of the EBU may be eligible to compete, dependent on approval by the contest's steering group.
Participation in the contest tends to change dramatically each year. The original Scandinavian broadcasters left the contest in 2006 because they found the treatment of the contestants unethical,[55][56] and revived theMGP Nordic competition, which had not been produced since the Junior Eurovision Song Contest began. TheNetherlands is the only country to have taken part every year since the first contest in 2003.Kazakhstan andWales are notable as the countries which have taken part in the Junior Eurovision but never in its adult counterpart (Wales being represented by theUnited Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest).
Broadcasters from 41 countries have competed at least once. Listed are all the countries that have taken part in the competition, alongside the year in which they made their debut:
^Kosovo has never participated in the contest. However, in the competition period 2005–2007, Kosovo was a province ofSerbia, which itself was aconstituent republic of participating countrySerbia and Montenegro at the time of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005.
^Before thePrespa agreement in 2018 presented as Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
^Serbia and Montenegro only participated once in 2005 and in the following year, the federation between the two countries was dissolved. Thus, Serbia continued to participate independently from 2006 and Montenegro was given the option to participate that year, which did not happen. Montenegro participated for the first time in 2014.
^abParticipated as part of Serbia and Montenegro in 2005.
^abRepresented by an associate member broadcaster of the EBU that participates by special invitation.
^Participated as part of the United Kingdom between 2003 and 2005 and in 2022 & 2023.
Overall, songs from twelve countries have won the contest since the inaugural edition in2003. Five countries have won the contest once:Croatia,Italy,Spain,Ukraine, and theNetherlands. Five have won the contest twice:Armenia,Belarus,Malta,Poland andRussia.France andGeorgia have won the most editions, each winning four times. Both Croatia and Italy achieved their wins on their debut participation in the contest.
Emmelie de Forest at a JESC press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine (2013)Jedward on stage performing "Hologram" during the interval in 2016
The tradition of interval acts between the songs in the competition programme and the announcement of the voting has been established since the inaugural contest in 2003. Interval entertainment has included such acts as girl groupSugababes and rock bandBusted (2003),[57]Westlife in2004, juggler Vladik Myagkostupov from the world-renownedCirque du Soleil (2005)[58] and singerKatie Melua in2007.[59]
The winners of Junior Eurovision from 2003 to 2009 performed a medley of their entries together on stage during the 2010 interval.[65] As part of the 2022 interval, 11 previous winners performed in a medley of all the winning songs to date, for the occasion of the 20th edition of the event; the other eight winning songs were performed by the Tavush Diocese Children's Choir.[66]
The previous winner has performed on a number of occasions since 2005, and from 2013 all participants have performed a "common song" together on stage during the interval. Similar performances took place in 2007 and 2010 with the specially-commissioned UNICEF songs "One World"[67] and "A Day Without War" respectively, the latter withDmitry Koldun.[68] The official charity song for the2012 contest was "We Can Be Heroes", the money from the sales of which went to the Dutch children's charityKidsRights Foundation.[69]
The2008 event inLimassol, Cyprus finished with the presenters inviting everyone on stage to sing "Hand in Hand", which was written especially for UNICEF and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest that year.[70][71]
Ruslana was invited to perform at the 2013 contest, which took place in her country's capitalKyiv.[72] However, on the day of the contest she withdrew from the show, in protest against disproportionate violence used against protesters during theEuromaidan.[73]
Since2004, the opening of the show has included a "Parade of Nations" or the "Flag Parade", similar to theOlympic Games opening ceremony. The parade was featured in some previous editions of the adult Eurovision Song Contest until its official adoption in 2013.
Below is a list of former participants of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest who have gone on to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. The adult contest, from2014 to2023, also invited the previous year's Junior Eurovision winner as a guest.
^"MGP Nordic 2002".esconnet.dk (in Danish). 27 April 2002. Retrieved3 May 2008.{{cite web}}:|archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Cole, Jessica (10 May 2024)."Junior Eurovision is coming to Madrid on November 16th, 2024!".Eurovoxx.Archived from the original on 10 September 2024.This marks the first time since 2015 that the contest will be taking place on a Saturday. Since 2016, it has always taken place on Sunday afternoon.
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