Junior Eurovision 2021 running order: Germany to open, Portugal to close. Left: Germany's Pauline, Right: Portugal's Simao Oliveira
Photos: KIKA Kai Myller / Hugo Manso

The Junior Eurovision 2021 running order is now confirmed. Finally, the 19 acts competing for the JESC crown at Paris’ La Seine Musicale on Sunday December 19 know the order in which they will be performing.

Germany will open the show for the second year in a row, setting the tone for the night with Pauline and “Imagine Us”. Portugal will close out the show with Simão Oliveira singing “O Rapaz”. Elsewhere, hosts France, represented by Enzo and “Tic Tac”, will perform 13th. 

In the interest of fairness, these positions were drawn at random at the JESC opening ceremony on December 13.

The remaining 16 countries had their positions determined by song contest producers, whose job it is to make the most exciting and logistically-realistic show possible — balancing genre and the ease of resetting props throughout the show. 

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 running order

1. 🇩🇪 Germany: Pauline — “Imagine Us”

2. 🇬🇪 Georgia: Niko Kajaia — “Let’s Count the Smiles”

3. 🇵🇱 Poland: Sara James — “Somebody”

4. 🇲🇹 Malta: Ike & Kaya — “My Home”

5. 🇮🇹 Italy: Elisabetta Lizza — “Specchio (Mirror on the Wall)”

6. 🇧🇬 Bulgaria: Denislava & Martin — “Voice of Love”

7. 🇷🇺 Russia: Tanya Mezhentseva — “Mon Ami”

8. 🇮🇪 Ireland: Maiú Levi Lawlor — “Saor (Disappear)”

9. 🇦🇲 Armenia: Maléna — “Qami Qami”

10. 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan: Alinur Khazim & Beknur Zhanibekuly — “Fairy World”

11. 🇦🇱 Albania: Anna Gjebrea — “Stand by You”

12. 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Olena Usenko — “Vazhil”

13. 🇫🇷 France: Enzo — “Tic Tac”

14. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: Sona Azizova — “One Of Those Days”

15. 🇳🇱 The Netherlands: Ayana — “Mata Sugu Aō Ne”

16. 🇪🇸 Spain: Levi Díaz — “Reír”

17. 🇷🇸 Serbia: Jovana & Dunja — “Oci Deteta (Children’s Eyes)”

18. 🇲🇰 North Macedonia: Dajte Muzika — “Greenforces”

19. 🇵🇹 Portugal: Simão Oliveira — “O Rapaz”

 
 
 
 
 
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Does the running order matter at JESC?

If you believe in statistics then yes, it does.

In the 18-year history of Junior Eurovision, only two songs from the first half have managed to win the contest — Croatia 2003 and Georgia 2008. That’s around 11.1% of all winners.

If you are lucky enough to draw the second half then the closing slot has a very strong chance of victory. It has five wins: Belarus 2005, Russia 2006, Georgia 2016, Poland 2018 and most recently, France 2020. In the 2010s, Malta (twice), Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine all won from slots in the last five.

What do you think of the running order? When will your favourite perform? Sound off in the comments below.

76 Comments
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Esc addict
Esc addict
2 years ago

The rehearsals begin! Portugal first, the first picture of his staging gives me Barbara Pravi staging vibes, let’s see, but it seems very classy and beautiful.

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
2 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

Where did you see the picture? 🙂

Esc addict
Esc addict
2 years ago
Reply to  WhiteSox

Firstly on junioreurovision.tv and now on instagram it’s everywhere 😉

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
2 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

Thx

ArvinRoido Atienza
ArvinRoido Atienza
2 years ago

There are only two possibilities:

  • Spain or North Macedonia will win
  • Someone from the first half will win
Gurl
Gurl
2 years ago

This is a strong year indeed! But I feel most of the songs have an adult feeling to them, like you can listen to similar songs in the senior Eurovision. While in JESC most playful songs tend to do better. With that in mind, i think that Georgia, France and Spain can do very well.

Addie
Addie
2 years ago

Yay, Junior Eurovision is finally happening!!! This is a really strong year, I have no idea who’s gonna win. I literally like all the songs. And people, stop fussing about the running order, it’s not going to have any impact on the results. This is JESC, not ESC.

Rantik
Rantik
2 years ago

Questionable order. Someone doesn’t want another victory for Georgia and Poland, and all the favorites in the first half. In this order, France has a great chance to win (and I’m totally satisfied, as it’s my favorite)

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
2 years ago

So, it’s time for JESC. You all know I rather loathe this event, but I do wish the performers all the best anyhow. Try to have fun.
The draw favours my favourite, but since the kids will be voting, my opinion doesn’t matter at all. Actually, I shouldn’t even be here. (Slowly hides behind a prop…) 😀

ArvinRoido Atienza
ArvinRoido Atienza
2 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Um, adults can watch and vote too, you know. The online voting is not restricted to children,

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
2 years ago

In case I wasn’t clear, the online vote should be restricted to children. That’s my point of view. 🙂

Steven
Steven
2 years ago

Remember people: vote!

Steven
Steven
2 years ago

1.  Germany: so so 2.  Georgia: like it 3.  Poland: like it 4.  Malta: not for me 5.  Italy: not for me 6.  Bulgaria: not for me 7.  Russia: like it 8.  Ireland: so so 9.  Armenia: like it 10.  Kazakhstan: not for me 11.  Albania: not for me 12.  Ukraine: not for me 13.  France: so so 14.  Azerbaijan: so so 15.  The Netherlands: so so 16.  Spain: so so 17.  Serbia: so so 18.  North Macedonia: like it 19.  Portugal: not for me 4 of my favs are in the first half ? plenty of ” I don’t mind ” in the second half.… Read more »

Esc addict
Esc addict
2 years ago

Actually the closing spot has 6 victories, Belarus 2005, Russia 2006, Belarus 2007, Georgia 2016, Poland 2018, France 2020, 6 out of 18 1/3 of the winners comes from this spot. Since 2003 I’ve looked at all the results to see from which half came the countries in the tops 5, 18 contests 5 spots, it means 90 spots, 60 came from the 2nd half, 30 from the first half. Winners: 2x 1st half, 16x 2nd half 2nd place: 7x 1st half, 11x 2nd half 3rd place: 4x 1st half, 14x 2nd half 4 th place: 10x 1st half, 8x… Read more »

abcd__ghijk
abcd__ghijk
2 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

Hopefully #18 for the first time ever this year

Esc addict
Esc addict
2 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

I mean whatever the spot you can still do well, and even Georgia can still win, this 2nd spot fake malediction has to stop, the spots 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 14, 18, 19 have never won on the opposite of the spot 2. The spot 2 has been in the top 5 SEVEN TIMES out of 18 contests.

Last edited 2 years ago by Esc addict
BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

And to be fair, the very first Junior Eurovision winner performed 2nd in the inaugural 2003 contest, so maybe it’s not quite a cursed spot as it is in the adult contest.

Esc addict
Esc addict
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

If you do a memorable performance that people can’t forget, even if you start the show or if you have the 2nd spot you can do well, look at Darina in 2018 and Carla in 2019, top 5 for them. It’s crazy to see with only a running order some people are already saying this country can’t win or this country can’t do well, it’s wrong, totally, EVERY country has still the chance to win or to get the top 5, period.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
2 years ago

It really is time for north macedonia to win their first eurovision event! Also it’s been so long since the last balkan win.

Last edited 2 years ago by Frisian esc
Ema
Ema
2 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Vote for them please. They are small country

Gucci
Gucci
2 years ago

Armenia have got a really nice spot , Macedonia will be remembered

Donkey
Donkey
2 years ago

Armenia won’t be hurt by this. In the end, it’s the best song and best performance that wins. Poland 2019 performed in a similar spot and still won. But omg I’m so happy for North Macedonia, they might be able to pull this off with good performance.

Last edited 2 years ago by Donkey
Indiana07
Indiana07
2 years ago
Reply to  Donkey

You can’t compare it. Poland won thanks to online vote, where the Polish themselves voted for it.

Meow
Meow
2 years ago

NOOOOOOO ARMENIA AND POLAND ROBBED

Titi
Titi
2 years ago
Reply to  Meow

Armenia 9th/19, after Ireland and before Kazakhstan wich are clearly not favory… i dont call this robbed

Ema
Ema
2 years ago

IM VERY HAPPY FOR SPOT FOR N.MACEDONIA. THEY DESERVED TO WIN ?

Alan
Alan
2 years ago

What a great spot for North Macedonia!

Titi
Titi
2 years ago

Guys stop your drama ! In Jesc the running order has a really really low impact on the results…

Aziz Lamrini
Aziz Lamrini
2 years ago

Poland robbed

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
2 years ago

Georgia and Italy had no chance, whatever their place is. There lucky one is North Macedonia this year.

Anna
Anna
2 years ago
Reply to  WhiteSox

Yeah I agree great spot for North Macedonia!

Anna
Anna
2 years ago

Pretty brutal spot for Ireland..

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
2 years ago
Reply to  Anna

Well, the song title is “Disappear.” 😉

Nobody Important
Nobody Important
2 years ago

Not them putting all the fan favorites in the first half and Enzo, their own country, surrounded by ballads. I’m not calling foul play, but we waited four hours for this RO and this is the best they could come up with?

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
2 years ago

Well i’d hate it if they’d just throw all the fan favorites in the last half behind each other. That wouldn’t make a great running order.

Sapphire
Sapphire
2 years ago

France did it randomly though, and this gives less popular songs like Serbia a chance to shine. People should quit crying about their faves being up early (ESPECIALLY the Poland stans) it doesn’t mean winning is suddenly impossible.

Esc addict
Esc addict
2 years ago

Spain, North Macedonia, Albania are between ballads too so….they can’t satisfy everybody….and it’s for the quality of the show

Last edited 2 years ago by Esc addict
Esc addict
Esc addict
2 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

Moreover you don’t know the stagings but the producers yes and they want to make the best show. 1 hour to wait of 4 hours we don’t care and it proves that it has been really well thought, they have not given a R O order like that in 10 min without reflection .

MALTESER
MALTESER
2 years ago

I’ve been saying Poland, Armenia and Russia won’t win. I stand by that. I have also been saying it’s between Italy, Spain and France. I still stand by that, but it looks challenging for Italy. If running order must matter.

WhiteSox
WhiteSox
2 years ago
Reply to  MALTESER

Very true.

Ema
Ema
2 years ago
Reply to  MALTESER

Macedonia??

Sapphire
Sapphire
2 years ago
Reply to  MALTESER

Italy is between 2 ballads though, I think it’ll work in their favor

Danial Khan
2 years ago

When do rehearsal get posted

Roelof M
Roelof M
2 years ago

LOL at France taking revenge for being put 2nd in 2019 by putting Poland 3rd XD. In all seriousness tho, it’s interesting how none of the three biggest favourites (Poland, Russia and Armenia) have been favoured by the Running Order, they are all quite close together. Also interesting to see that France (very uptempo) has three ballads surrounding it. I think I’m most happy for North Macedonia and Serbia getting great spots in the order, and that the boy/girl ratio (i.e. not too many (fe)male acts after one another) is spread out this year. Poor Ireland tho, stuck between two… Read more »

Celeste
Celeste
2 years ago
Reply to  Roelof M

Kazakhstan was 2nd in the running order last year and finish 2nd. Stop to be so dramatic.

Celeste
Celeste
2 years ago
Reply to  Roelof M

Revenge maybe, but remenber that Carla finish 3dr in televote and 5th overall, not that bad. Poland have similar fate, maybe better. And for the favorites in 1st half, they are all between “weak” songs. Armenia i still high chance to win. And i agree for Ireland…

Alex
Alex
2 years ago

Poland, Russia and Armenia all 3 in the 1st half. Interesting.

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
2 years ago

I have a feeling Serbia is gonna perform second. Or maybe fourth.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  willchrisiam

Or Bulgaria will get the second slot. Either way those two songs are doomed

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
2 years ago
Reply to  willchrisiam

I feel like in the future the 2nd place should also be done by draw. Especially in junior eurovision since it’s connotation with being the ‘worst’ spot is so big. It’s like an insult to the delegation with the production team basically acknowledging that your country send the most chanceless entry of the year. A draw could remove that feeling of doom maybe a bit.

Leo
Leo
2 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

This occurs in ESC, but the kid’s level has had 3 runners up, and a top 5 placing viral sensation, performing in 2nd slot in the last 7 years.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
2 years ago
Reply to  Leo

Yeah fair enough.

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
2 years ago
Reply to  willchrisiam

Well that comment aged like a fine…
milk.

wrrgegg
wrrgegg
2 years ago

well at first i didnt think germany was a good opener. But when i saw germany being drawn to open i couldn’t stop laughing. Looks like Germany will be another Greece(my country) we opened the first three contests xD

mark
mark
2 years ago

neither can i

mark
mark
2 years ago

but portugal is so underrated. it’s such a beautiful song and i really hope that this running order spot will give them a better chance. definitely voting for them as well as they deserve love!

Nobody Important
Nobody Important
2 years ago

Portugal closing is my absolute favorite!

sam
sam
2 years ago

i bet germany would’ve been picked to open had it not been a draw

sam
sam
2 years ago
Reply to  sam

why is this getting downvotes? im saying germany is a great choice for an opener

wrrgegg
wrrgegg
2 years ago
Reply to  sam

they just think that germany wasnt picked. I mean its impossible since they could not have written germany on all papers (we saw that with portugal)

Branko86
Branko86
2 years ago

Why not make same system for real adult Eurovision, too? Choosing opener, closer and host entry and the rest is up to producers??? Any thoughts on that?

Aeria
Aeria
2 years ago
Reply to  Branko86

Yeah but the grand final of the adult contest is almost twice as long meaning that forgetting early songs is a lot more likely. Going up first or second literally kills every chance you have. Think France 2013 or Ukraine 2014.

Even in semifinals it’s quite the big deal as f.e. I think Azerbaijan would’ve qualified in 2018 had they performed a bit later.

Donkey
Donkey
2 years ago

I don’t care what anyone else says. Portugal is an amazing closer to the show. Germany imo is the perfect opener too.

mark
mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Donkey

portugal is very underrated

Kee
Kee
2 years ago
Reply to  Donkey

Also imagine us was the first song to be selected!

Ema
Ema
2 years ago

North Macedonia have best song for OPENER

mark
mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Ema

yeah could have been amazing start

beccaboo1212
2 years ago

For anyone thinking 2021 will be Germany’s last year at Junior Eurovision, it’s not. They’re likely to get a better result than last year. Meanwhile, fado is an iconic musical style in Portugal, so it’s quite obvious that Simão Oliveria is one of the genre’s many singers who are sensitive to hurtful remarks. Get your asses off the ‘RIP Germany’ and ‘horrible running order’ bandwagons and grow some balls.

mark
mark
2 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

i totally agree. germany have a very accessible and “to the point”, uplifting song, even though i personally think it sounds like something a school assembly would sing. nevertheless, germany should do quite well for the first position this year

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
2 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

the way no one here said rip germany but you clearly had to let that out anyway

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
2 years ago

closer is very anticlimatic but then again it was a draw

Anna
Anna
2 years ago

Poor Germany drawing first again, hopefully people still vote for Pauline!

Kinga
2 years ago

Portugal closing the show is rather surprising.. I hope that Italy will be 18th 🙂

Donkey
Donkey
2 years ago
Reply to  Kinga

I mean what did you expect. Its not like they choose who closes the show. it’s random

willchrisiam
willchrisiam
2 years ago
Reply to  Kinga

The likelihood of that happening is pretty strong. Or maybe Spain will be 18th. EBU love having a Big 5 country close the show.