Junior Eurovision 2020 logo Move The World

It’s taken a while. But just in time for the contest’s 18th edition, Germany has confirmed that it will make its debut at Junior Eurovision 2020 in Warsaw.

Germany to debut at Junior Eurovision 2020

The official press release outlines that the participation will be a joint venture between three public broadcasters — KiKA, NDR and ZDF. The live show on 29 November will be shown on KiKA.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have succeeded in getting Germany involved in this wonderful European Song Contest, and to be broadcasting it on KiKA. Together with NDR and ZDF, we found a wonderful approach to creative collaboration which plays to all of our respective strengths. It will be a major event for our KiKA audience and for the whole family”, says KiKA’s Director of Programming Dr. Astrid Plenk.

As per JESC rules, performers must be between the ages of nine and 14.

The German representative will be selected with the help of an existing format. Dein Song (Your Song) is a ZDF produced talent show airing on KiKA. “ZDF are pleased to have secured Levent Geiger, a finalist in last year’s ‘Your Song’, to compose the German entry. He will also be involved in the casting, and will accompany the young performer on every step along the way to the big night in Warsaw. We’ll accompany them on this thrilling journey in a two-part documentary”, says Michael Stumpf, director of children’s and youth content at ZDF.

“Since 1996, the NDR has been the leading broadcaster for German involvement in the ESC. It’s fantastic that we’ll be delivering the junior contest for the first time together with KiKA and ZDF. This year’s slogan, ‘Move the World’, is highly symbolic, encouraging children to take an active part in shaping their world. That’s why it will also play a role in the music video we are producing”, says Ole Kampowski, director of children’s and youth content at NDR.

More information about Germany’s JESC 2020 participation will be available soon at the KiKA Press Lounge at kika-presse.de.

Junior Eurovision 2020

Confirmed countries

The German announcement brings the number of confirmed countries for Junior Eurovision 2020 to eleven.

  1. France
  2. Georgia
  3. Germany
  4. Ireland
  5. Italy
  6. Kazakhstan
  7. Netherlands
  8. Poland
  9. Russia
  10. Spain
  11. Ukraine

COVID-19 impact

While Eurovision 2020 may have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all stakeholders are committed to making Junior Eurovision happen.

It remains to be seen what implications coronavirus will have on the contest.

Organisers may follow the lead of the Dutch national selection. Junior Songfestival 2020 will be held in Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena with an audience limited to only family members of the competing acts.

Broadcaster AVROTROS says it would be “irresponsible to have so many children from all over the Netherlands come together singing, dancing and screaming”.

The pandemic may also have an impact on the number of participating countries. For instance, Australia has yet to RSVP. As of July, the country has very strict quarantine rules regarding international travel. These may prove too burdensome for a young act and delegation should they still be in place later in the year.

What do you think of Germany’s participation? Are you excited for Junior Eurovision? Let us know in the comments below.

Follow all of our Junior Eurovision 2020 coverage.

41 Comments
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Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago

Just by the way, a huge thanks to Wiwibloggs for deleting my comments on multiple pages and yet still allowing racists and homophobes to thrive on this platform. 🙂

Christian
Christian
3 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

Oh wow

Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago
Reply to  Christian

Why is it surprising or shocking? I’m just saying the truth.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

On a related note: is there any way to submit oneself for consideration for the “fan jury” Germany uses for adult ESC? Just curious.

Lollipop ESC
Lollipop ESC
3 years ago

I think (maybe I am wrong with that) Germany just joint the contest because the EBU has problems to get enough countries to participate this year ….and the contest could be cancelled due to that ….so the EBU bagged Germany to take part. What do you think?

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Lollipop ESC

I think that’s awfully cynical

Pontus
Pontus
3 years ago

When is the new voting sistem confirmed? A 3rd polish win in a row is coming closer with online voting. Everyone knows how super nationatic polish people are. And even that is strange when you read about how the polish goverment are against more and more the freedom of speach in their media….

Pontus
Pontus
3 years ago
Reply to  Pontus

your funny. A. You have done a very bad research about Polands current political situation with free gay zones and not free press, its not something for polish people to be nationalistic about. Do you think that? B. Ignorant/stupid fans who say they HATE Sweden because of 1. We bribe jurys 2. They will never vote for Sweden again ever. 3. Martin is the supervisor and i hate him. 4. Sweden should fail. thats just to stupid not to call them out so your wrong.

first row at ESC and JESC
first row at ESC and JESC
3 years ago

The quality of the JESC is (since 2017) on the same high level (venue, stage, acts, songs, staging etc.) as the adult ESC ……and it is really amazing to watch it. When you see the videos from the backstage area – the kids are very warmhearted and there is no “I sing better than you” – that is an area where friendship is created between kids from different countries.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago

I don’t want it to be like the “senior” version. It’s for children. It shouldn’t be about hype and spectacle, with songs written and produced by adults. The spirit is nice, though, you’re right. Hopefully it stays that way.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

It’s insane how apolitical the voting can be. Think about it: Russia and Georgia, exchanging twelve points! That happened! In 2017!

Lollipop ESC
Lollipop ESC
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

You are partly right…..but in JESC 2019 the Polish Jury gave their 12 points to top contender Spain and Spain gave 10 to Poland (if I remember right).

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Lollipop ESC

No they didn’t. Poland gave 12 to Kazakhstan, and they gave 12 to Poland, but there’s no neighborly connection there that I can see.

Lollipop ESC
Lollipop ESC
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Would be interesting to see if Wales would score Scotland with 12 points and would get 12 points back from them.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Lollipop ESC

Ireland also sends songs in a Celtic language and they’ve given Wales pretty much nothing.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Those two languages aren’t at all similar, though.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Yeah, but you’d figure that just by virtue of both being Celtic languages, the similar heritage and all would be enough to score with each other. That hasn’t been the case.

RavensHeart
RavensHeart
3 years ago

So for the first time ever all the Big 5 will be represented in JESC!

(While it’s presented as “Wales”, S4C is a branch of the BBC and competes in JESC using the British ticket/invite)

Last edited 3 years ago by RavensHeart
Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  RavensHeart

We almost got Scotland too!

Ben
Ben
3 years ago

So what you’re saying is that a 2020 German Eurovision representative will have to tell their mama what they’re doing tonight after all.

ESC SSS
ESC SSS
3 years ago

No surprise at all, but we all expected Germany to debut since the beginning after JESC 2019.

Bimbamboom
Bimbamboom
3 years ago

4 out of the Big 5 countries from adult ESC now + Wales in only 3 years, this is interesting in the way it shows those broadcasters are taking the contest more and more seriously, not only with the goal of winning but with the will of participating in a song celebration, and attracting new generations into it after hard times and “moqueries” about Eurovision among people there. I think this is a really virtuous process that will succeed for sure for one of them at least soon (adult or JESC) if all the efforts are heard and maintained. Congrats,… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Bimbamboom
Joe
Joe
3 years ago

Not gonna lie: I legit didn’t see that coming. Considering that they’ve been circling the contest for years without ever actually participating, I’m genuinely surprised that they’re actually gonna do it at last. A lot of the more devoted JESC fans are probably losing their minds right now, and I can’t blame them!

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

(Psst…ball’s in your court, Austria! Also, come back Switzerland and Israel!)

Ria van de Velde -NL
Ria van de Velde -NL
3 years ago

I am very happy with this great news !!! A very warm welcome for Germany !! I hope fpr a great song and wish them good luck in Warsaw !!

Africavision
Africavision
3 years ago

I’ve been staring at this article for like the last hour, and refreshing the page to see the new comments, and trying to think of what to say to express the immense joy I feel right now. Words just fail me at the moment. It just feels so long since we last had an edition of our beloved song contest, and this pandemic really created insecurities of when a new edition will return, and if it did, would many countries opt out of participating, due to safety or financial reasons. This news, that we have a debuting country, isn’t just… Read more »

sam
sam
3 years ago

is warsaw really the host? i was thinking it’d be in krakow considering warsaw doesnt have an arena that would work

Last edited 3 years ago by sam
Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago
Reply to  sam

it’s not going to be in an arena, but instead a studio because of corona.

Hi :)
Hi :)
3 years ago
Reply to  sam

It’s gonna be in a large TV studio facility instead of an arena due to Coronavirus precautions.

Frisian esc
3 years ago
Reply to  sam

Why do we downvote honest questions??

Tesni
Tesni
3 years ago

Yes! Yes! Yes! Ja Deutschland!

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
3 years ago

YES, I’m so excited for them. Ever since I started watching JESC in 2014 they have been teasing a debut every single year, but now they’re finally in! I think the recent succes of Spain, France (and to some extent Italy and maybe the Netherlands) has finally convinced them. JESC has seen such a turnaround, it almost dies in 2012-2013, but now the viewing figures and participating countries are completely back again.

first row at ESC and JESC
first row at ESC and JESC
3 years ago

the quality of the JESC is since 2017 on the same high level (venue, stage, acts, songs, staging etc.) as the adult ESC ……and it is really amazing to watch it. When you see the videos from the backstage area – the kids are very warmhearted and there is no “I sing better than you” – that is an area where friendship is created between kids from different countries.

FanESC
FanESC
3 years ago

No surprise at all. The 2nd place from France in 2018 and then from Spain in 2019 probably convinced them.

Nobody Important
Nobody Important
3 years ago

Poland beware, you’re getting a competitor for winning the online vote. 😉

Pontus
Pontus
3 years ago

7 million poles will do it for a 3rd time: Voting for poland. with online voting this is going to be the last show ever

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

I never though I’d see the day Germany would debut at JESC. I’m so excited for JESC 2020.

Tom
Tom
3 years ago

YASS FINALLY MY COUNTRY WILL GO TO JESC! YES!

Darren
Darren
3 years ago

Great news. Germany have been teasing us with a possible debut for years now. Glad they’re finally doing it.
I wonder if many other countries that withdrew/haven’t taken part yet, will return/debut at JESC20 because they didn’t get a chance to go to the main ESC this year.
I hope Portugal doesn’t withdraw and it would be nice if Iceland debuted too and of course a Swedish return.
I very much doubt that Australia will be there this year, I really would be surprised if they did.

Lollipop ESC
Lollipop ESC
3 years ago

Yes baby yes! We here in Germany waited so long for this announcement. So happy right now …..and I guess we will send a good act….the problem is (like in the adult ESC) to find a catchy song with a good hook.

Conor K
Conor K
3 years ago

Some good news for once! Herzlich willkommen! 🙂