Ever since Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light in May, the official line from the EBU has been that Junior Eurovision 2020 will go ahead, come what may. That’s remained the case even as four regular participants withdrew due to COVID-19 related issues.
Ironically, this stance is now looking a little shakier following Portugal’s confirmation that it will compete in the November contest.
Portugal’s confirmation raises doubts about Junior Eurovision 2020
In a short statement to ESC Portugal, the Portuguese delegation confirmed that “if there is a competition, RTP will be present”.
The confirmation is notable for more than just its brevity. “If there is a competition” implies that Junior Eurovision 2020 is not 100% guaranteed to happen.
Now, some might argue that this is just a case of a small broadcaster playing it safe in these uncertain times. However, RTP’s Carla Bugalho holds a highly-coveted seat on the Eurovision Reference Group. And while that committee’s purpose is to look after the main contest in May, one would assume that its members are well clued in as to what is happening with the entire family of Eurovision live events.
A year of pandemic withdrawals
Portugal’s “confirmation” leaves 13 countries that have provisionally confirmed their intention to participate in the contest. This includes Germany, which will be making its debut. Fans are still waiting on the 2019 participants Albania, Armenia and Italy to confirm their participation for 2020.
With four countries — Ireland, North Macedonia, Australia and Wales — withdrawing 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.
It is important to note that the four withdrawing nations have only confirmed their non-participation at Junior Eurovision 2020, not total withdrawal from all future editions of the contest.
Junior Eurovision 2020 is scheduled to take place in Warsaw, Poland on 29 November. If it does go ahead as intended, we can expect a show unlike any that’s gone before. It should also act as a testing ground for both the EBU and participating broadcasters on how to best organise Eurovision itself in 2021.
What do you make of Portugal’s statement? Should JESC fans be worried? Let us know below.
Wasnt there a rumour UK may return to JESC this year?
“Four withdrawing nations have only confirmed their non-participation at Junior Eurovision 2020, not total withdrawal from all future editions of the contest.”
Good thing it’s only a one-year break. Permanent withdrawal is a nightmare.
If there is a competition I hope Portugal will be present with a song that actually sounds relevant to what kids are listening to these days. Portugal could actually utilize their kids contestant to use more radio friendly producers instead of leaning into the usual indie musicians that most teenagers and kids don’t even relate to. Take a chance Portugal and do something different with the kids contest.
It’s up to the following countries to save the day:
• Albania
• Armenia
• Italy
fingers crossed that Armenia will return, really concerned that we haven’t heard anything yet.
I know this is early, but with second waves hitting many countries right now, I hope arrangements are being made for the possibility that there will be no live ESC contest/venue next year. There’s been plenty of time for the producers to come up with something should COVID prevent next year’s contest from going ahead – so I hope they work something out via satellite/internet somehow and don’t take a second year off. American Idol and The Voice has done it well where performances are well produced at home.
Eurovision won’t go remote. Things are getting better even though there are some european countries having a second wave (and in fact in most of them it hasn’t peaked (yet) the first one) and there are great chances that we will have a vaccine in December and also Israel and India are developing a way to find if a person has covid19 by a few minutes or even seconds so hopefully everything will go well with these things. Also, if eurovision 2021 goes remotely it will be very unfair for the netherlands as they lose their chance to host a… Read more »
In life, very little is 100% guaranteed. I wouldn’t read too much into the statement, it seems a very logical one – “if it goes ahead, we will be there”. 3 months before ESC, could we have predicted the contest would have been cancelled? Who can 100% guarantee what the situation will be in 3 months? If you can, please get it contact, I need your guidance with this week’s lottery.
I hope the contest won’t happen. If ESC doesn’t, why should JESC, why should the kids be in danger if the virus and the adults no ??
I’m sorry, but the EBU still has Junior Eurovision on the calendar.
Plus it might be a chance to see what Eurovision 2021 could look like with the guidelines in place. JESC 2020 is being held in a TV studio facility in Warsaw, I’m sure you all know, but we don’t know what it will look like just yet.
It’s up to the following countries to save Junior Eurovision.
* Albania
* Armenia
* Italy
I hope the contest won’t be cancelled. William posted on his Instagram that Eurovision could be outside, I don’t see a problem with it, except for the weather. I’m nearly sure both Poland and Netherlands will take this as an option..
JESC can’t be cancelled forever! 😉 Should 2020 be off the calendar, one year hiatus is enough.
Also we can notice that The Netherlands and Ukraine are very advanced on their selection process too.
The Netherlands being the host country of the Esc, they must be aware of what they do too, and must be very close of the reference group and of the Ebu as for Poland. The moves of these countries are reassuring for the eurofans.
Poland has already recorded the first semi final of their national selection, they seem motivated…..and as they are the hosting country they know what they do probably. It means the Jesc 2020 will certainly happen with all the precautions needed in this time of pandemic so certainly without a large audience and more others changes and adaptations… since march the EBU had enough time, this time, to reflect about all scenarios and how contests like that could work even with this virus. In some ways Jesc 2020 would be a sort of test for the Esc 2021.
Considering a bunch of countries are in the thick of their selections, I’d be surprised if it was canceled outright.