With the reveal of the slogan for this year’s competition, the EBU and AMPTV has revealed that 16 countries will be competing in this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which is due to take place in Yerevan on December 11, 2022, at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, which can accommodate up to 8,800 spectators.
16 Countries to Participate in Yerevan
The 20th edition of the competition will see 16 countries participating. This is a decrease from 2021. However, the contest will see the return of the United Kingdom after a 17 year break.
- Albania – RTSH has confirmed that they will be using Junior Fest once again to select their eighth Junior Eurovision representative.
- Armenia (Host Country) – Armenia will be using an audition process to select their fifteenth Junior Eurovision representative.
- France – It is yet to be revealed how France will select its sixth Junior Eurovision representative.
- Georgia – Mariam Bigvava was selected after winning the latest edition of Ranina, she will be Georgia’s sixteenth Junior Eurovision representative.
- Ireland – Earlier this year, Ireland opened submissions in search of their Junior Eurovision 2022 representative, with Junior Eurovision Eire to commence airing in the Autumn.
- Italy – It is yet to be revealed how Italy will be selecting their eighth Junior Eurovision representative.
- Kazakhstan – David Charlin was selected to be Kazakhstan’s fifth Junior Eurovision representative.
- Malta – It has been revealed that MJESC will be used to select Malta’s eighteenth Junior Eurovision representative, which will be held on October 2.
- Netherlands – Jr Songfestival will once again be used to select The Netherlands’ twentieth Junior Eurovision representative, which saw Luna being selected as their representative
- North Macedonia – Lara Trpčeska and Irina Davidovska was internally selected to be North Macedonia’s seventeenth Junior Eurovision representative.
- Poland – After its continued success, Poland has once again opted to use Szansa na Sukces to select its ninth Junior Eurovision representative, which saw Laura Bączkiewicz being selected as their representative.
- Portugal – RTP has revealed that Nicolas Alves will be their seventh Junior Eurovision representative.
- Serbia – RTS has opened submissions in the search for its fourteenth Junior Eurovision representative.
- Spain – RTVE has opened submissions in the search for its eighth Junior Eurovision representative, with their representative to be selected by the end of October.
- Ukraine – UA:PBC used a National Final, to select their representative, with Zlata Dziunka being selected as their seventeenth representative.
- United Kingdom – The UK will participate in the competition after a 17-year break. The BBC will be internally selecting their fourth representative.
Bulgaria who initially confirmed participation in this year’s competition has revealed that they will not be participating in this year.
Commenting on the participating countries, EBU’s Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl had the following to say:
We’re delighted to be welcoming talented young artists from 16 countries this year to Yerevan for the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
It’s exciting to be returning to the Armenian capital for the first time in over a decade to “Spin The Magic” on this special anniversary – and welcoming back the United Kingdom to the competition, our host country for Eurovision 2023.
There’s so much energy, passion and creativity from our colleagues at AMPTV and we can’t wait to see a spectacular show in December.’
Who will we not see in Yerevan?
With the list now official, it’s confirmed that the following countries will not be participating in this year’s contest.
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Austria
- Bulgaria
- Czech Republic
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- Israel
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Norway
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Wales
In addition to the above, this will be the first year Russia will not be participating in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest when the EBU suspended its membership in May 2022. This will be the second year Belarus will not be participating in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest when the EBU suspended its membership in May 2021.
Are you looking forward to this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest? Who do you want to participate in this year’s competition? Will you be heading to Yerevan? Let us know in the comments below or on social media. Don’t forget to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ over at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
News Source: EBU
Photo Credit: EBU
