NDR and German children’s broadcaster KiKA have confirmed that Germany will once again participate in Junior Eurovision, which this year will take place in Madrid.
Germany builds on success
This announcement follows Germany’s best placement at the Eurovision Song Contest since 2018, with Isak placing twelfth with “Always on the Run”. Additionally, their most recent Junior Eurovision participation–Fia, singing “Ohne Worte”–achieved Germany’s best-ever Junior Eurovision result, reaching ninth place. NDR and KiKA see no need to change their formula; as in previous years, there will be no open submission period for Junior Eurovision. Head of Delegation Ulrike Ziesemer said that preparations for Junior Eurovision have already begun.
Germany’s Junior Eurovision journey
Germany was originally due to join the Junior Eurovision family in the initial edition of the Contest, but unexpectedly withdraw. This also happened in 2004, when Germany withdrew ahead of the Contest in Lillehammer. It wasn’t until 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, that Germany first participated in a Junior Eurovision event. Germany has participated on three occasions, the first in 2020 when Susan performed “Stronger With You”, finishing 12th in a field of 12.
In 2023, Fia represented Germany in Nice with her song “Ohne Worte”. Performing fifteenth in the running order, Germany finished in 9th place out of 16 performers. Germany received a total of 107 points, 33 from professional juries and the 74 from the online vote. To date, this is Germany’s best result at the contest.
Will Germany’s Eurovision success continue to build? What would you like to see them send to Madrid this year? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we head towards Junior Eurovision 2024!
Source: eurovision.de
Image Credit: EBU/Corinne Cumming
Tim J