While Eurovision 2020 may still be quite a long ways off, the Junior Eurovision 2019 season is just revving up. More and more details about the contest are beginning to emerge. The EBU has now confirmed that a total of 19 nations will “Share The Joy” in Poland this November.

Roksana Węgiel brought Poland their first ever victory at Junior Eurovision in Minsk last November. Now the contest is headed to southern Poland’s Gliwice-Silesia where 19 participants will compete for the trophy, the second highest number of participants since the contest began in 2003.

Last year’s contest in Minsk saw the debut of Kazakhstan and Wales, two countries that had never before competed as independent nations in Junior Eurovision. They are both back for 2019, with Kazakhstan’s broadcaster having again been given a special guest invitation.

This time around, we don’t have any new debuting countries, but we do have a returnee to the contest. After last competing in 2006, Spain will be returning to Junior Eurovision after an absence of 13 years.

Spain competed in the first four editions of Junior Eurovision from 2003 to 2006 and had a fantastic run. Not only did they win in 2005 but they landed in the top four all other years that they competed. To date, they have the best record in terms of average placing at Junior Eurovision, but will they still be a powerhouse after a 12-year hiatus?

Unfortunately, there are two more changes to the lineup that are far less pleasant. Both Azerbaijan and Israel have decided to withdraw from the contest, at least for the time being.

Last year saw Azerbaijan and Israel both return to Junior Eurovision after a hiatus of four years and one year, respectively. However, both countries have decided to sit this one out again. It could be speculated that Israel’s withdrawal may have been necessary in order for them to be able to focus on hosting the Eurovision Song Contest earlier this year in Tel Aviv. Regardless, we all hope to see Azerbaijan and Israel back in the contest very soon.

Belarus and the Netherlands continue their unbroken streak of being the only two countries to have competed at every Junior Eurovision contest. The Netherlands also faces the possibility of being the first country to win both Eurovision and Junior Eurovision in the same year.

The 2019 Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be held on Sunday, the 24th of November at Gliwice Arena in Gliwice-Silesia, Poland.

Junior Eurovison 2019 participating countries:

  • Albania (RTSH)
  • Armenia (AMPTV)
  • Australia (ABC/SBS)
  • Belarus (BTRC)
  • France (France TV)
  • Georgia (GPB)
  • Ireland (TG4)
  • Italy (RAI)
  • Kazakhstan (Khabar Agency)
  • Malta (PBS)
  • The Netherlands (AVROTROS)
  • North Macedonia (MKRTV)
  • Poland (TVP)
  • Portugal (RTP)
  • Russia (RTR)
  • Serbia (RTS)
  • Spain (RTVE)
  • Ukraine (UA:PBC)
  • Wales (S4C)

What do YOU think? Will Spain be able to continue their streak of top-four placements after a twelve year absence? Who are you disappointed not to see on the list of participants? Let us know in the comments below! 

Read more Junior Eurovision news here

53 Comments
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Joodod
Joodod
4 years ago

who is the staff writer?

uwu vision
uwu vision
4 years ago

I hope Wales does well this year, and I hope that they send a song in Welsh Gaelic again. I didn’t think they deserved last place last year.

Mahmoodinho
Mahmoodinho
4 years ago
Reply to  uwu vision

Welsh is not gaelic, it’s brittonic, yo!

Kris
Kris
4 years ago

Netherlands can win JESC? Are any of their songs good?

Maya G
Maya G
4 years ago

Nobody in Israel cares about JESC, KAN probably participated last year because they were pressured to do so as the winning country of the ESC (just like Portugal returned after winning in 2017).
On top not getting much public attention, the contest is broadcast on a Sunday afternoon, which in Israel is a school and work days, meaning viewing figures are minuscule. For the local audience, Israeli participation in the JESC is like tree falling in a forest with no one around to hear it.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Maya G

I think that’s a common problem: either broadcasters object to making kids go through the whole Eurovision shebang or they just don’t give enough of a crap when the adult version is more exciting.

Marcelo
Marcelo
4 years ago
Reply to  Maya G

Sad to see Israel’s not that interested in the Junior contest, although to be fair it was probably expected. Israeli viewing figures forJESC 2018 were way lower (less than 12k viewers) that the ones in 2016, when Israel first returned to the competition. This probably had to do with the fact that the 2016 edition was broadcast on IBA’s main Channel 1 while the 2018 edition was broadcast by KAN Educational, which is the new Israeli broadcaster’s children channel. Hopefully, Israel and KAN can return to the competition soon, they showed lots of effort in their 2018 entry. They even… Read more »

Nikko
Nikko
4 years ago
Reply to  Maya G

Same with Portugal in JESC 2017. I think the only reason they came back, was, that they won ESC 2017 and were somehow pressured to come back again.
You could here that there was no enthusiasm in selecting a good entry at all!

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Nikko

At the very least, they’ve stuck with it for the last two years. The Netherlands didn’t need any pressure cuz they do it every year!

Tajikistan
Tajikistan
4 years ago

I’m glad the contest has become so professional over the years, even if sometimes I feel it is simply becoming a native language clone of the main contest (with increased diversity with Gaelic entries from Ireland, Welsh language songs from Wales and most importantly Kazakhstan competing). Anyway, I hope one day Lithuania will return. I still don’t funny understand why we stopped participating: we got our best ever result in a contest here (3rd in 2008), it was relatively popular here and we had some amazing entries (especially Laiminga diena in 2008 and Oki doki in 2010), but with Poland,… Read more »

Marcelo
Marcelo
4 years ago
Reply to  Tajikistan

I really hope Lithuania can return to JESC as well, maybe in some years. Last time they were asked (2018), some person at LRT answered saying something about how JESC are just “children trying to be Christina Aguilera or Beyoncé” and I was like, seriously? And it’s sad to see this thinking has spread in some parts of Europe.

Ron
Ron
4 years ago

Both JESC 2018 and 2019 venues were bigger than ESC 2017 and 2019 venues…yikes!

Frisian esc
4 years ago
Reply to  Ron

It’s weird, but then again, the actual eurovision probably couldn’t be held in gliwice and silesia because the region doesn’t have enough hotel capacity etc.

MrBrightside
MrBrightside
4 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

I think Gliwice as a part of the biggest metropolis in Poland (made of 28 cities and towns) could manage hosting ESC. But is was said a couple of years ago that in case of Poland winning, TVP prefers Cracow to host since there is no suitable venue in Warsaw.

Leo
Leo
4 years ago

Reportedly another country is also interested so the number of participants could increase in the following weeks

Nick
Nick
4 years ago
Reply to  Leo

Source??

Marcelo
Marcelo
4 years ago
Reply to  Nick

This Spanish site says one broadcaster is still interested in the format, but couldn’t get the necessary funds in time. Apparently, the EBU has sorted this out by pushing the deadline exceptionally. So maybe Bulgaria, Israel?

https://www.escplus.es/la-lista-de-participantes-de-eurovision-junior-2019-podria-aumentar-en-las-proximas-semanas/

Nick
Nick
4 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

Thank u! Let’s hope that It can get to 20 countries again

Nick
Nick
4 years ago
Reply to  Nick

This site also states that one of the withdrawn countries might be still participating https://www.esc-plus.com/official-nineteen-countries-to-compete-at-junior-eurovision-2019

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Nick

I’m guessing of the two it’d probably be Azerbaijan. Israel doesn’t really care.

Daniel
Daniel
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Azerbaijan is always late on their participation, as they are always trying to find the best act instead of just sending something.

Marcelo
Marcelo
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Initially, Azerbaijan’s participation in this edition of JESC seemed to be confirmed. Some Instagram page close to iTV said that the broadcaster would participate and that funding has been secured or something like that (The post seems to be gone now). So maybe Azerbaijan could make a return in the following weeks. I could also see Bulgaria being the interested broadcaster because the whole “insecure funding issues” rings the bell in my head for BNT.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

Isn’t the Bulgarian broadcaster actually broke?

Africavision
Africavision
4 years ago

Following up on my comment below (if it gets reinstated by Wiwibloggs), I really don’t get why JESC isn’t as popular as the adult Eurovision contest. At present, the level of songs at JESC is equivalent to ESC, and yet less than half the countries that participate at ESC, participate at JESC. There are 3 million people who are subscribed to the official ESC YouTube channel, yet in comparison there are only 300,000 people who subscribed to the official JESC channel. A lot of Eurovision fans are clearly missing out. JESC is what gets me through PED in the few… Read more »

Brooklyn
Brooklyn
4 years ago

Im sure Spain won in 2004 not in 2005

Novak and Simona Wimbledon Best
Novak and Simona Wimbledon Best
4 years ago

Has Germany ever participated? I wonder what the law says in each country about child work.

KESC
KESC
4 years ago

Child work? What do you mean? And no, Germany has never participated.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
4 years ago

Germany hasn’t participated in the competition yet (sadly) but they say that they are observing it every year.

Novak and Simona Wimbledon Best
Novak and Simona Wimbledon Best
4 years ago

Thank you for your answers. Yes, is child work. Not all counties are all right with this.

KESC
KESC
4 years ago

Singing at a music competition is child work? You know that they all do this voluntarily, don’t you?

Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  KESC

Well in Belgium it has happened already that some child stars needed to stop giving concerts because there is like a limit, and when they cross it, singing on stage is seen as child labour.

Novak and Simona Wimbledon Best
Novak and Simona Wimbledon Best
4 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Yes Tom, you are right, being a child star is much more work than…helping the parents with whatever work they need the child to do around the home.

MrBrightside
MrBrightside
4 years ago
Reply to  Tom

Well, actually Belgium has won ESC with a child so I guess back then there was no problem of ‘child work’. :p

Marcelo
Marcelo
4 years ago

Under that logic, being a recording artist while being a kid or a teen is also child work. Definitely absurd, never mind there are kids and teens out there who want to start careers in music and entertainment.

James
James
4 years ago

Technically, competitions involving kids, or rather competitions in general are not considered work by those who take part in it. Depending on how it varies per country, child employment is allowed if kids are guaranteed to have access to an education, their parents or legal guardian are with them at all times in places of work, and they are only allowed to work for a limited amount of hours, much less than their adult counterparts. Competitions are a whole other thing. In the case of JESC, participants are only in the host city for a shorter time than the adults,… Read more »

KESC
KESC
4 years ago

“Kazakhstan will debut at the Eurovision 2020”. Please make this happen!!!

Shanfa Chai
Shanfa Chai
4 years ago
Reply to  KESC

Yes, please!!

Would love to see any of these following artists represent Kazakhstan in Eurovision :

ALBA
Aidana Medenova
Ali Okapov
Ayree
C.C. TAY
Dimash Kudaibergen
Erke Esmahan
Kamshat Zholdybaeva
Luina
Moldir Auelbekova
Zhanar Dugalova
Ziruza

Fionn??
Fionn??
4 years ago
Reply to  KESC

Yes I’ve wanted Kazakhstan in the eurovision for ages hope the are but I don’t see it happening

wish
wish
4 years ago

Gliwice Arena Is Spectacular!

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
4 years ago

Let’s hope JESC this year will be even better than last year! I am extremely pleased with the fact that Spain is coming back and I’m also glad that Kazkahstan was invited once again. Now let’s hope that we will also see Kazakhstan in ESC next year, I think they would bring an interesting flavour to the contest because we haven’t seen a Central Asian country compete, and because their 2018 entry was amazing. I’m also very excited to see wath Poland will show as our hosts, but judging so far I think they are capable hosts.

Marcelo
Marcelo
4 years ago

I think Poland will do a decent showing, plus they already have hosted Eurovision Young Musicians not that long ago.

Frisian esc
4 years ago

Nice and interesting mix of eastern and western countries. I’m hoping wales and ireland can bring something good to the table this year.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Imagine if one of them won! Ireland could finally host a Eurovision event again!

Frisian esc
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Would be cool 😀 or Cardiff 2020

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago

Amazing how they keep finding enough broadcasters willing to participate in this s*** show. Although I am thankful for the Russian gem “Water of Life”. Beautiful song which would have been great for the real Eurovision.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago

Oh, I certainly wouldn’t agree on that one – the quality of the show has been drastically increasing the past few years going from the editions where finding one decent entry was a challenge to the 2018 contest consisting mostly of well produced, catchy and entertaining songs – for instance the winning song, “Anyone I Want To Be” was a MAJOR hit in Poland, occupying the radio stations for weeks. And let’s not forget that JESC is meant to be different from the ESC – produce more fun and kid oriented music. And I think it is doing it better… Read more »

Africavision
Africavision
4 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

I completely agree with you, Skiwalko. And just to understand the magnitude of “Anyone I want to be”… The official video has racked up 27 million hits on the official JESC YouTube channel over the past 8 months. Only 13 videos on the official ESC channel have a higher view count. It even has more views than ESC winning songs by Duncan Laurence, Salvador Sobral, and Jamala. This fact attests to the current high level of JESC, equivalent to that of the adult contest. I really don’t understand why the junior contest isn’t as popular as the senior contest!

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
4 years ago

I do also think the contest developed quite well 😀

Btw: Why there are so many different accounts named “Mr. Vanilla Bean”? One with this shoe, one with a blue monster and one with a red monster. I want the “real Bean” back 😀

Fionn??
Fionn??
4 years ago

It’s funny really,you’re giving negative comments about the junior Eurovision. Think about that for a sec .why even bother your not putting anything positive out into the world so if you don’t like the JESC just keep it to yourself cuz no one wants to hear it! thank you

Daniel
Daniel
4 years ago
Reply to  Fionn??

It also was one of the reasons why the comment section for videos on the official JESC YT Channel were closed, besides the last one for some reason.

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago

Amazing how they keep finding enough broadcasters willing to participate in this show. Although I am thankful for the Russian gem “Water of Life”. Beautiful song which would have been great for the real Eurovision.

More countriees
More countriees
4 years ago

Nice to see Kazakhstan and Spain back in the competition, let´s just hope Kazakhstan can debut in ESC 2020!

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

They’re in the European Football League, so I don’t know why the EBU is so hesitant to give them a chance.