They’re a stalwart of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, having hosted the event twice — in 2009 and 2013. And now Ukraine have confirmed that they will participate in the 2022 edition, which is set to take place in Armenia this December.
Peace, harmony and love — the perennial themes of Junior Eurovision — will resonate even more strongly for Ukraine in 2022 as its people continue to fight for their survival amid Russia’s ongoing war.
The event, long loved and highly popular in Ukraine, will give young people something to look forward to and bit of joy in these darkest of times.
Ukraine: Junior Eurovision 2022 participation confirmed
Here’s the official press release from the Ukrainian broadcaster.
This year Suspilne Ukraine (the public broadcaster of Ukraine) will join the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Yerevan (Armenia) on 11 December.
Suspilne Ukraine will announce the national selection very soon and invite applications with original songs.
As a reminder, 14-year-old Malena was the winner of the last year’s Contest in Paris featuring 19 contestants. It was Armenia’s second victory in Junior Eurovision. The public broadcaster AMPTV first hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Yerevan in 2011.
Ukraine was represented in Paris by 14-year-old Olena Usenko with her song “Vazhil”. She ended up 6th.
Junior Eurovision 2021 was broadcast by the public Suspilne Kultura TV channel, the dedicated Facebook page and national website.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest has been held since 2003 and featured the total of 40 participating countries. Ukraine has been participating in this contest since 2006, won once (Anastasiya Petryk with the song “Nebo” in 2012) and ended up second twice (in 2008 and 2013).
How do you think Ukraine will choose its 2022 artist? Which act from their past is your favourite? Let us know down below!
ok and i assume we are all gonna agree not to do this whole “televote pity” thingy if ukraine receives a good result now right? and we’re not gonna claim that ukraine’s participation in the event is inherently immoral and propagandic right? because this is a competition for children and the kid(s) that represent ukraine do not deserve this kind of backlash, right? PLEASE?!
Sorry but I have to say What we all think- the massive online voting will make Ukraine the next winner of the Junior Eurovision (even if juries place it lower). We know they place it in top 5 Anyway to show it’s support. I am really sorry for all What is happening in Ukraine but this is ridiculous to involve politics into Song contest, especially contest for kids. Look What is happening – Germany already withdrew (hope they come back in next year), because they wanna take a „creative break”. It means they don’t wanna take part in this ridiculous… Read more »
Fantastic! Here we have the 2022 JESC winner.
No please .
Are you telling the truth or are you joking is that now Ukraine will always have to win is that honestly it is taking away my illusion completely.
Well now we know the winner of JESC 2022 , i think its wrong to give them a win AGAIN as its a kids show and its for fun but its okay that they’re taking part , cant wait to see whos gonna repersent them this year , last years song was amazing!
Welcome Ukraine. We are waiting for you. Much love from Armenia.
As much as I loved “Vazhil” last year, it was my winner in fact… I can’t deny that Ukraine’s decision to still compete in JESC worries me a bit. Shouldn’t the nation focus on its current political scenario more than a children’s contest where fun is the main focal point? I find it a bit difficult to really see Ukraine compete under regular circumstances in a contest like this. I do wish them the best of luck, but I’m not sure how it will turn out.
NO, we are going to vote TALENT.
You are not going to win again just because “poor guys”. FORGET IT.
The fandom decides the winner through online voting anyway. Juries didn’t put Kalush first back in May, and online voters which will massively vote on their crowd favorite will brute force their favorite to first. Whether it becomes Ukraine depends on how much the fandom itself pushes the entry. We’ve seen that in every year since 2018
honestly even if it does become the crowd favorite it could still lose. wings won as the 6th/16 favorite entry of the televote, and voice of the heart came incredibly close in 11th/16 in the televote
Why the HELL is Ukraine in JESC when it’s in Armenia? They’ve been very close to Russia for so long and Russia helped them in the second Karabakh War. I’m not sure about the kids safety in Yerevan but they will win against Russia. Slava Ukraini
Fake news. It’s Azerbaijan which signed an agreement on strategic partnership with Russia a day before the war in Ukraine. At least go and read that document. Who voted for Eussia every year? Azerbaijan
Other countries may just as well stop applying…
I actually laughed when I read this.
I guess we’re going to [whichever country places 2nd] for Junior Eurovision 2023!
I don’t see which is actually laughable here except you and your weird state of mind…
Well in the earlier years of JESC the next edition was hardly ever hosted in the country that won the year prior. I believe 2011 to be the first edition where the winning country hosted the year after. (Ironically that was in Armenia too, let alone the exact same venue) so is that really a big deal?
So Ukraine will probably win JESC this year, which is fine. All support is needed. But I would prepare the kids competing from the other countries so they go with the mindset that, even if Ukraine will probably win, the contest is a celebration and a chance to support kids in Ukraine and be united through music.
this shouldn’t happen the fact that ppl can’t keep politics out of a children’s contest truly worries me
Unless the war miraculously ends before December, it’s safe to say we have a winner (despite not knowing the competition nor the songs or acts that’ll perform them).
Children think differently to these things than (young) adults do. Also, the fandom has a huge say in who wins due to the hilariously flawed voting system, and given how many fans disagree with Kalush’s victory, I doubt Ukraine pulls off a double on this year’s JESC edition as well.Ultimately, the juries don’t really matter much, they often decide who else will appear in the top 3 rather than claim victory
Ummm, the fact that it is taking place in Armenia is concerning because they have been aligning more closely with Russia recently. Ukraine’s delegation may not be safe there. Watch out. Glory to Ukraine.
It’s Azerbaijan which is close to Russia. Their Mutual voting in Eurovision prices it. Stop spreading fake news and try to trash Armenia out.
That’s cool the number of participating countries is increasing. I think Ukraine will do well not because of the war but simply because Ukraine is very good in Jesc, they always send good acts and they got great results. Maybe Ukraine will be the first country to win Esc and Jesc the same year and I wouldn’t be mad if it’s really deserved. For me Kalush Orchestra’s victory is really deserved with or without the war so… Tired to see here people saying that Ukraine doesn’t deserved their victory, saying they won only because of the situation, it’s disgusting and… Read more »
No, it is not disgusting. It is just the truth.
Your truth is not THE truth.
Well we have likely winner of Junior Eurovision 2022. Even with a bad song, they will most likely get a good public vote either way. I’m still resentful that Ukraine won, yeah they won fairly, yeah they didnt do anything wrong. But everyone knows that televote score and jury score were influenced by the war. I thought that maybe they won’t participate in Eurovision 2023 and Junior Eurovision 2022, to save money, but no. I thought that maybe just being a part of hosting Eurovision 2023 would be good but no. I really care about Junior Eurovision (is it because… Read more »
How do we know when we haven’t heard all the songs?
You make it seem like Ukraine intended to have the war happen so they could win at a Eurovision event.
And now your extending that assumption over a children’s contest.
Sorry I think it was lost translation but I don’t think Ukraine intended to have the war to win Eurovision.
I can’t disagree more, so the ukrainians children have to pay and have to be excluded because of this f..king war, double pain for them. But if you care about so much about the sadness of some kids only because they don’t win the Jesc, you should care about the sadness of ukrainians kids too in this moment and don’t ask for them to not participate only because you’re afraid for your country to not win, it’s ugly. Ukraine won’t destroy the Jesc don’t be afraid. This is crazy, Ukraine is the victim in this war situation and they have… Read more »
They have to win because of their talent, not because of Russia.
This “sad vote” is not fair for the other children. They have feelings too and you are giving them a wrong lesson.
You don’t achieve things in life just because your tragedies.
You get your goals with hard work and talent.
And what? Ukrainians contestants have no talent? They don’t work for it? They don’t deserve votes? Because of a stupid war they have lost suddenly all the talents of their country? Come on it’s not because some eurofans can’t reflect correctly about the situation that Ukraine should be out of these contests, it’s totally the opposite, they should be present more than ever.
Im not saying they should be out, i’m saying they don’t have to win just because a war.
I very honestly don’t think Ukraine will get that much of a televote boost, simply because JESC doesn’t reach that many “locals”. A big part of its voting audience are Eurovision fans (that will most likely just vote for their faves) and children, that will not fully understand the war situation and probably won’t be further propelled to vote for Ukraine. And also, I don’t think they will send a song that will make that big of a connection with the war situation like Stefania.
Who is paying for this ? Many peaceful countries wouldn’t take part if the finances were not there .
Sponsors perhaps?
Don’t you love it how besides Armenia hosting this is the only article about Junior Eurovision 2022?
Almost as if… it’s because Ukraine confirmed participation.
If I were the person in charge of making the decision for my country, I would think twice about taking part in the contest considering we already have a winner…
Well now in 2024 they will have to find another host than Ukraine
It is an old tradition for JESC, winner dont have an exclusive right to host.
Hope the war will be over till December. Otherwise we’ll know who will reach Top 5 again even if they would send a scratching cat to sing.
On the one hand, I am surprised, but on the other, I am proud that despite the war, Ukraine will be in the competition and thus wants to show that Ukraine still exists and promotes its culture, and at the same time still needs support
When you know who will win without even knowing the song and the performer…
And other contestants
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner ?
P.S. Glad that they join though!