As Malta prepares to host the first ever Junior Eurovision Song Contest on a Sunday afternoon, there’s still the small matter of the running order. Well now the wait is over — to some degree at least. The 17 competing countries each drew lots to determine which half of the show they will be singing in. Producers will determine the precise order later in the week.
The allocation draw took place during today’s opening ceremony at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta. The producers will not be able to decide who’s first on stage, or who closes the show though.
That’s because those positions were also in the draw. As a result, we know that Ireland’s Zena Donnelly will open the show, whilst Georgia’s Mariam Mamadashvili will bring the curtain down. Wiwi Jury favourites Russia will perform in the first half also, along with host nation Malta.
Albania will compete in the first half #JESC #jesc2016 #eurovision #embrace #junioreurovision #junioreurovision 2016 pic.twitter.com/iiL6HYUI6F
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) November 14, 2016
Allocation Draw Results
First half
Ireland
Albania
Armenia
Belarus
Bulgaria
FYR Macedonia
Malta
Poland
Russia
Second half
Australia
Cyprus
Israel
Italy
The Netherlands
Serbia
Ukraine
Georgia
One highlight of the night was watching Malta’s reigning JESC queen Destiny perform “Embrace” — the official theme song.
She worked it vocally and sartorially, slipping into an all-black number that fit the sassy vibe of the song.
In the video you’ll also see some of this year’s stars chatting and taking selfies, including Israel’s Tim, Russia’s Sofia Fisenko and the guys from Belarus.
Junior Eurovision 2016 Opening Ceremony
What do you think of the running order as it stands? Do you think Ireland and Georgia are good for their positions? Let us know in the comments section below!
Follow all of our Junior Eurovision 2016 news
Does anybody have any news about the first rehearsals of the first eight countries scheduled for today? 🙂
I like Tim too. For the first time he drew attention to him. He seems like a very talented child. Somehow Israel is not in the spotlight.
Tim seems like a fun guy.And with his eight languages he seems to have made friends 🙂
Yes I agree that most of the favourites are in the first half. Maybe, they should have divided the main favourites and put them in the two different halves, I mean just to make the show more interesting. However, it might be an advantage for the Italian girl that she performs in the second half where she doesn’t really have much competition. 🙂
It felt as if most of the songs got First Half. I was like “where’s the second half options?”
And most of the favorites are in the first half.
1st half= great songs
2nd half=mixed
Weird draw
I am guessing that Belarus will perform second and Cyprus sixteenth (I hope Cyprus will get 16, it would make things interesting in the end).
Armenia will probably be 9th
I am sorry for both Sofias. Sofia Rol must have had a horrible week trying to find the money for the delegation. I read somewhere that her family had to foot the bill for Malta. And Sofia Fisenko, after winning solo, 3 more girls were attached to her song, and as if this is not bad enough, she was sent on the red carpet without an interpreter, and consequently she probably did not understand the questions and one of the other girls took the spotlight….
Almost all of the boring songs are on the second half ew
Macedonia – the best this year !!!
Both Sofia from Russia and Ukraine are not that well versed in English…..so both looked a little out of sorts 🙁
Does anyone know when we’re gonna get the exact running order
My ideal order form those prompts
1- Ireland
2- Russia
3- Malta
4- Belarus
5- Bulgaria
6- Armenia
7- Poland
8- FYR Macedonia
9- Albania
10- Australia
11- Israel
12- Ukraine
13- Netherlands
14- Italy
15- Serbia
16- Cyprus
17- Georgia
With no televote this year, the running order is not as important. It is obvious that based on Youtube views and wiwibloggs, the first half of the show will have most of the top entries. Good luck to all the kids, and may the best win:-)
The running order doesn’t seem to matter for the outcome since there is no televote.
It does, of course, still matter for the show itself, that’s why I’m not happy with Georgia in last position, Cyprus would’ve been better to close the show
I’m really dissapointed that Ireland got 1. they are before Russia which doesn’t help things either. Zena probably wasn’t gonna make it out of the bottom 5 before the draw . I don’t think Ireland could of had a worser draw! :/
now that Georgia is last it probably has a better chance of making it out of the bottom 3 which really sucks. Mariam is a beautiful person but her song is just so boring.
Weird draw ..
Most of the best songs like Bulgaria,Armenia and Poland and so many are in first half and the boring ones in second.
Sofia might be nervous because her English is not so good?
Sofia really seemed not in a mood on the red carpet but she was also a little shy with Kisses on the plane and Maltese airport, maybe it’s just her personality or she’s sad she’s not in the spotlight alone as she won the National Final all by her self and now she’s part of the group, who knows. And yes, weird draw..
Anahit seems to have a cold. 🙁
Also, did anyone else notice that Sofia from Russia looked rather bored and not so excited? What’s wrong with her?
The running order based on the position the children have drawn:
01 Bulgaria – FIRST HALF
02 Cyprus -SECOND HALF
03 Australia SECOND HALF
04 Albania FIRST HALF
05 Macedonia FIRST HALF
06 Serbia SECOND HALF
07 Israel SECOND HALF
08 Ukraine SECOND HALF
09 Ireland -OPENS THE SHOW
10 Russia – FIRST HALF
11 Armenia FIRST HALF
12 The Netherlands SECOND HALF
13 Belarus FIRST HALF
14 Malta FIRST HALF
15 Poland FIRST HALF
16 Georgia CLOSES THE SHOW
17 Italy SECOND HALF
don’t lobby*
As long as they lobby for that horrid song from Australia, i will be happy with the results, as I love all the songs in this year’s JESC. I would jump and scream in happines if Georgia won, that girl is stunning. I also love Armenia, Italy and. Russia.