San Marino has announced its intention to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2026. The news comes shortly after the country confirmed a new three-year agreement for the San Marino Song Contest, ensuring its continued presence at Eurovision.
Looking towards 2026
San Marino has been involved in Eurovision events for more than 16 years, and now the country is looking to take the next step by hosting Junior Eurovision. According to San Marino RTV, the Republic has venues ranging from theatres to sports arenas that could stage an event of this scale.
Ersin Palak, consultant for the Sammarinese delegation, said:
“Every year Junior Eurovision is hosted in a different country, and San Marino is eager to win and ready to host a future edition. From large theatres to sports arenas, San Marino offers a wide range of options to stage such an event.”
Before that, attention turns to this year’s contest in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 13 December. San Marino will be represented by 12-year-old Martina Crv with her song “Beyond the stars”.
Eurovision connection
San Marino’s Junior Eurovision plans come as the country refreshes its own national selection for Eurovision. The San Marino Song Contest will now include semi-finals and a live final. Denny Montesi has been appointed Head of Delegation, while four-time Eurovision entrant Valentina Monetta will serve as Ambassador, supporting the country’s efforts in both Eurovision and Junior Eurovision.
San Marino’s Junior Eurovision journey
San Marino made its debut to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 with Michele Perniola and his entry “O-o-O Sole intorno a me” which placed 10th. San Marino participated two more times, with their recent attempt in 2015 with Kamilla Ismailova and her song “Mirror” which placed 14th and received 36 points overall. They then took a nine-year hiatus before returning in 2024.
The quartet Idols SM represented San Marino for their 2024 return to the contest. Their song “Come noi” received only one point from the juries, and 46 from the online vote, placing seventeenth in a field of seventeen.
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News source: San Marino RTV
Photo credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU
Rory Gannon 
Tim J