Another broadcaster has confirmed they will not compete in Junior Eurovision 2020, again citing the Covid-19 pandemic as their reason for staying away. North Macedonia’s broadcaster MRT has told media they will not compete in Krakow, a rare year-off for the contest regulars.

Broadcaster MRT confirmed their decision to Eurovision news site Eurovoix. The site reported that MRT’s reason for withdrawing was “due to the current COVID-19 pandemic”.

North Macedonia has been competing in Junior Eurovision since the inaugural contest in 2003. They have only taken two years off previously, 2012 (unhappy with the voting system and for budgetary reasons) and 2014 (unhappy with the previous year’s result).

A year of pandemic withdrawals

The Balkan nation joins regular Junior Eurovision competing countries Wales and Australia who have also confirmed that they won’t be part of the contest in 2020.

Earlier in July, Welsh broadcaster S4C tweeted that “Due to the present circumstances, unfortunately we will not be taking part in this year’s contest.”

Soon after, Australian broadcaster SBS confirmed to wiwibloggs that they also would not be heading to Poland in November. A spokesperson said “Due to the current restrictions and the ongoing uncertainty around this situation, Australia will not be competing in the Junior Eurovision Contest 2020. We have informed the EBU of our decision.”

It is important to note that these three countries have only confirmed their non-participation at Junior Eurovision 2020, not total withdrawal from all future editions of the contest.

So far, 13 countries have provisionally confirmed their intention to participate in the contest. This includes Germany, who will be making their debut. Fans are still waiting on the 2019 participants Albania, Armenia, Italy and Portugal to confirm their participation for 2020.

With three countries having withdrawn from Junior Eurovision 2020 due to Covid-19 concerns, the question remains whether countries will have to make the same decision regarding their participation in Eurovision 2021.

Junior Eurovision 2020 is due to take place on 29 November. It will be held in Warsaw, Poland, hosted at a large television studio.

Are you disappointed to see North Macedonia bow out? Will we see any more debuts in this year’s contest? Tell us your thoughts below!

Follow all of our Junior Eurovision 2020 coverage

36 Comments
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beccaboo1212
3 years ago

It’s up to following countries to save the day:

* Armenia
* Italy
* Portugal
* United Kingdom (with BBC)

Last edited 3 years ago by beccaboo1212
Harry review's
Harry review's
3 years ago

They need to cancel it this virus wont leave for a while

ESC SSS
ESC SSS
3 years ago

Gurl, I hope Armenia, Portugal, Albania, and Italy won’t do the same thing like Australia, Wales, and North Macedonia. This means that Serbia is the only Balkan country competing at JESC 2020 unless Albania confirms participation. Also, I have a feeling that the countries of Eastern Europe is dominating this year at JESC than the countries of Western Europe.

sam
sam
3 years ago

my favorite and the most underrated country in JESC </3 love you macedonia and mila moskov

Ria van de Velde
Ria van de Velde
3 years ago

It ‘s sad that some country ‘s won ‘t participated in this year Junior Eurovision but off cause I understand it. Hopefully we will see them back in 2021.

Esc2021rotterdam
Esc2021rotterdam
3 years ago

So from the jesc 2019 participants we have: Albania, Armenia, Italy and Portugal, and also there are possibilities that Azebraijan and UK will be back. Portugal has already said that it’s most likely to partipicate and I don’t see Italy missing out as well. The Albanian entry for jesc 2018 said Albania is not going to partipicate but I hope it’s wrong. I hope to see Armenia as well like in every year (actually Armenia always confirms partipication very late so right now I’m less worried), and i hope to see Azerbaijan and UK returning. Anyway, I have a feeling… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Esc2021rotterdam
beccaboo1212
3 years ago

The following countries are here to stay:
* Armenia
* Italy
* Portugal

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
3 years ago

No blame here. They have to do what is right for them. Thankfully, it seems we’ve already got enough provisionally confirmed countries that a contest can run if it is reasonably safe to do so.

Pineaple
Pineaple
3 years ago

I’ve been hearing rumours that Albania won’t be participating but Armenia and Portugal will be. There is also talk that Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom may be taking part but I doubt either of them will be there to be honest. I think it will be a 15 country show.

Joseph Mendy
Joseph Mendy
3 years ago
Reply to  Pineaple

Yeah I predicted the same number. Be lucky if we get 16, but I doubt it.

Kim
Kim
3 years ago
Reply to  Pineaple

Where have you heard that UK will be taking place? I’ve searched online and was unable to find anything.

Cameron
Cameron
3 years ago
Reply to  Kim

It says it on the Wikipedia page jesc 2020

Cameron
Cameron
3 years ago
Reply to  Cameron

Yeah, as a Brit myself I can say that the BBC does nowhere near as much kids things ITV (in terms of competitions)

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Cameron

Guess we’re not counting the legends Dick ‘n’ Dom in Da Bungalow.

Jan Neisius
Jan Neisius
3 years ago

They should just cancel the contest as well. It is safer and then the next time all countries can participate and so we don‘t have a contest with like 10 countries this time.

Last edited 3 years ago by Jan Neisius
Cameron
Cameron
3 years ago
Reply to  Jan Neisius

There’s already 13 confirmed

Nikko
Nikko
3 years ago

Oh No! My favorite JESC country next to Spain 🙁

1998
1998
3 years ago

And now Serbia is all alone in JESC 2020…

Tom
Tom
3 years ago
Reply to  1998

Not at all, there are others 12 countries here

RavensHeart
RavensHeart
3 years ago

Will they still be broadcasting the show? That to me signals whether or not they intend to return.

Sadly Wales won’t even be broadcasting the contest, which after coming last both times is a worrying sign 🙁

James
James
3 years ago
Reply to  RavensHeart

If a broadcaster have already paid the rights to air the show regardless of participation, then they would.

In the case of Wales, as I mentioned in another thread of a separate article, Wales’s S4C uses JESC as an outlet to showcase and promote the Welsh language to their audience at home and to the rest of Europe. It’s in their mandate and as such since they can’t take part, what would be the point of airing this year’s JESC if they’re not sending a song to the contest?

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

So who’s next?

Escvegi
Escvegi
3 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Portugal and Albania

Hi :)
Hi :)
3 years ago
Reply to  Escvegi

Portugal said they’re “Highly likely” to participate. I think Albania won’t participate

Rick
Rick
3 years ago
Reply to  Alex

I feel like Italy will stay, as it has the situation in control and they actually confirmed intentions to take part earlier in the summer.
Albania, Armenia and Portugal are 50/50, because they could go either way. They don’t have that good situation with the pandemic, so we could see more withdrawals, but let’s hope for the best!

ESC SSS
ESC SSS
3 years ago
Reply to  Rick

Imagine Armenia withdraws from the competition. I mean come on, Armenia is the most successful country in Junior Eurovision than Eurovision. I felt like Armenia shouldn’t withdraw from JESC because you know, Armenia has so many great entries.

Heyey
Heyey
3 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Likely to participate – Italy & Portugal (Italy already confirmed that they’re interested to participate this year and Portugal said they’re “highly likely” to participate)
Possible withdrawal – Albania & Armenia

beccaboo1212
3 years ago
Reply to  Heyey

Armenia is here to stay.

Heyey
Heyey
3 years ago

It’s really a pity that we won’t see one of my favourite countries in both JESC & ESC competing in Junior Eurovision this year. I completely understand the decision behind this though as it’s really a risk and a financial strain to participate this year. I was absolutely in love with North Macedonia’s entry last year (The song, the singer and even the staging), so hopefully they can come back stronger in 2021!

Last edited 3 years ago by Heyey
Hrvatska
Hrvatska
3 years ago

I feel sorry for North Macedonia, they finally won a good place, and here the resignation shows how the virus affected the financial situation in the Balkans and showed the region’s problems with poverty, there are also voices that Albania may resign, I am curious if Serbia is also changing its mind about participation

1998
1998
3 years ago
Reply to  Hrvatska

RTS won’t change their mind, they already opened submissions for the contest.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Hrvatska

They didn’t even get their best finish last year. Best in a while, yes, but they finished fifth back in 2007.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

They looked to be getting their mojo back last year, possibly bolstered on by Tamara’s success in Tel Aviv, so it’s a shame that they’ve been set back. Like I said before, Italy’s the only one I’m particularly wary about at this point, but we shall see.

Nick
Nick
3 years ago

I guess no country will finish 12th this year?

Leo
Leo
3 years ago
Reply to  Nick

Well there’s always Ireland

ESC SSS
ESC SSS
3 years ago
Reply to  Leo

Well yes