While we are still months away from this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest, this is the time of year where we begin to learn who will be participating.
This year’s contest will be held in Paris, France, at La Seine Musicale. The date is set for the 19th of December, marking the first time since 2012 that the contest has been held in December.
The Confirmed Nations:
Here is a list of the nations that have provisionally confirmed their participation:
- Albania – Albania will return to the contest after withdrawing from the 2020 edition
- Azerbaijan – Azerbaijan is returning to the contest this year, and they have internally selected Sona Azizova.
- France – Host nation France is set to participate at the contest, however at this stage there is no news on how their act will be selected. Based on previous years, their act is likely to be internally selected.
- Georgia – Georgian broadcaster GPB have confirmed that the nation will use the selection Ranina once again
- Germany – The search has begun for the next Junior Eurovision representative, with the final to take place on September 10th
- Ireland – Ireland is returning to the contest after not participating in 2020 due to COVID-19 related reasons. There are plans for a televised selection to determine the next representative
- Italy – After initially ruling out a return, RAI have now reversed that decision and will participate, with the representative to be chosen in November
- Malta – Malta has confirmed their participation. A national final will be used to select the representative, and that will take place on October 9th.
- Netherlands – The four competing acts in the Dutch national selection have been revealed, with the final to take place in September
- North Macedonia – North Macedonia have confirmed their participation, however there is currently no news on their selection
- Poland – Poland will use the selection format, Szansa na Sukces to select their next Junior Eurovision act
- Portugal – Portugal is the first nation to select their Junior Eurovision act. Simão Oliveira will represent the nation with a song yet to be released
- Russia – Russia have confirmed their participation and are accepting submissions from interested participants.
- Serbia – Serbia has confirmed their participation with the broadcaster accepting song submissions
- Spain – Spain has confirmed their participation
- Ukraine – UA:Kultura will organise a national final to select the next Ukrainian representative
Yet to make a statement:
- United Kingdom – The EBU confirmed that they were working to bring the UK back to Junior Eurovision, with their last participation back in 2005
- Kazakhstan – After the 2020 contest, the Head of Delegation stated that it’s highly likely the country will participate provided they are invited
Non-Participating:
- Belgium – Belgium will not be participating due to the costs associated
- Estonia – Estonia will not make their debut at the contest due to financial issues, however will consider making their debut in the future
- Israel – Israel will not participate, citing Eurovision as their main focus
- Lithuania – Lithuania will not return to Junior Eurovision citing low ratings and the cost of participation
- Slovakia – The Slovak broadcaster made earlier claims that they would be open to making their debut, however have since said they will not participate this year
- Wales – Wales has confirmed their non-participation, citing ‘current circumstances’, likely the pandemic as their reason for not participating
- Belarus – Belarusian broadcaster BTRC has now been expelled from the EBU, which means that they will not be able to compete at the contest unless another TV channel in the country joins the EBU
- Australia – SBS have confirmed due to travel restrictions, they will not be participating
Here are the nations to confirm non-participation without reason:
- Austria
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- Iceland
- Latvia
- Moldova
- Norway
- San Marino
- Scotland
- Sweden
- Switzerland