Russia is feeling the Junior Eurovision spirit. On the back of Polina Bogusevich‘s win for Russia at Junior Eurovision 2017, it’s now clear that Russian broadcaster VGTRK hopes to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2019.

Stella Khachanyants, the Director General of the Igor Krutoy Academy of Popular Music, recently told Russian news agency TASS that the Academy and VGTRK plan to lodge a bid to host the contest in two years. If successful, it will mark its first time hosting the Junior contest.

The Academy has long been an advocate of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, with active involvement in each Russian representative for the last four years including 2017’s winner Polina Bogusevich.

The Academy’s Igor Krutoy is no stranger to the Eurovision Song Contest either. He was part of the jury panel which selected Russian representative Dima Bilan in 2008 and the Buranovskiye Babushki in 2012.

Why isn’t Russia hosting Junior Eurovision 2018?

Although the winning country has, in recent years, had first refusal to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest the following year, the Junior Eurovision Steering Group announced an abolition of the tradition weeks before this year’s contest, instead rewarding Belarus hosting duties for 2018.

As the European Broadcasting Union explained at the time:

“To ensure the longevity of the Contest and allow more time to prepare the event, the Junior Eurovision Steering Group decided to remove a clause in the Rules that gave the winning broadcaster first refusal to host. EBU Members were given the opportunity to apply to host Junior Eurovision 2018 and the application from Belarus was judged to be the best.”

With Russia’s VGTRK hoping to host in 2019, perhaps we may see famed Eurovision composer Philipp Kirkorov stamp his signature style over the contest (he recently praised Russia’s JESC 2017 victory, seeing it as bridging the political divide which has at times isolated Russia). Delectable duo Dima Bilan and Sergey Lazarev for hosts? Yes please!

Would you like to see Russia host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2019?  Let us know in the comments below!

Photo by Marc Mingels for wiwibloggs

FOLLOW OUR JUNIOR EUROVISION COVERAGE

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Official Junior Eurovision
Official Junior Eurovision
5 years ago

No problem with that – it is only fair, that Russia host it in 2019 – because they won the event in 2017. I can understand that the EBU publish the next host before the show (so the next host has more time to set everything up) – but it would be fair, that they declare the next host after the event (first ask the winning country and if that country reject ….then all other countries could apply for hosting).

drag
drag
6 years ago

yes Grozny Checenia is officiatl the city’s host of jesc 2018

Dinar
Dinar
6 years ago
Reply to  drag

Why not. Nice city. By the way by 2019 they will have built Akhmat tower – the tallest in Europe. Junior Eurovision would be another celebration of peace in Chechnya after all the Saudi Arabia backed terrorists were killed. Sochi, Krasnodar, Rostov on Don are other nice options as southern cities with mild climate in December.

James
James
6 years ago

The supposed reason is that, without the clause, it’d be easier to plan the following contest with a longer timetable, and it would probabLY allow other broadcasters to make their bids again as they did in the early years of JESC.

With a smaller pool of countries taking part, the likelihood of repeat winners is greater, but more than that, I think the tempting incentive of being able to gain the right to host the junior contest upon winning it may not be not as attractive as getting the right to host the senior contest.

beccaboo1212
5 years ago
Reply to  James

JESC will stay alive for a long time, nothing to worry about.

Official Junior Eurovision
Official Junior Eurovision
5 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

beccaboo1212 – yes, the JESC is now on a good way (after bad years) – and the quality of the songs is rising since 2015 ?.

Tony
Tony
6 years ago

Wasn’t Junior Eurovision dead already? The viewing figures this year were a disaster

beccaboo1212
6 years ago
Reply to  Tony

I keep trying to tell you, Junior Eurovision is NOT dead! 😮

Leena
Leena
6 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

How can you be so optimistic about JESC? It’s incredible

Official Junior Eurovision
Official Junior Eurovision
5 years ago
Reply to  Tony

Tony – Junior Eurovision was almost dead …..but with better songs (since 2015) – there is only one way and that is UP ! I hope the JESC will last forever.

Rhingo
Rhingo
6 years ago

I hope Russia manage to host it. I am slightly disatisfied by the whole anti Russia movement and if they host it will be a bit of justice served.

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

Russia’s a good option for 2019. However, I’m also hoping for Armenia and Ireland to bid, and maybe Portugal, Poland, Macedonia, or Serbia.