EBU Confirms 16 Broadcasters for Junior Eurovision 2026 in Malta; Ukraine Releases 15-Act Selection Longlist

Malta to host third Junior Eurovision edition

PBS Malta will stage the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta' Qali on 24 October, marking the third time the country has hosted the competition after 2014 and 2016. Malta took over hosting rights from France, which declined to stage the contest again after hosting in 2021 and 2023, citing financial considerations. France's Lou Deleuze won the 2025 contest in Tbilisi, Georgia, with "Ce Monde," scoring 248 points—152 from juries and 96 from the online vote—for France's fourth Junior Eurovision title.

Sixteen broadcasters confirmed, no new entrants

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has confirmed 16 public broadcasters will participate in the 2026 edition, with no new countries joining and no previous participants returning to the line-up. The confirmed broadcasters are Albania (RTSH), Armenia (AMPTV), Cyprus (CyBC), France (France Télévisions), Georgia (GPB), Ireland (TG4), Italy (Rai), Malta (PBS, hosts), Montenegro (RTCG), Netherlands (AVROTROS), North Macedonia (MKRTV), Poland (TVP), Portugal (RTP), San Marino (SMRTV), Spain (RTVE), and Ukraine (Suspilne). Azerbaijan and Croatia, both 2025 participants, will not compete in 2026.

Prime-time schedule change

The 2026 show will air at 21:00 CEST, a move from the contest's traditional early-afternoon broadcast slot. EBU Junior Eurovision Director Martin Green said the organisation is "delighted to welcome 16 talented young artists to Malta" and thanked PBS for its preparation work. The EBU has also launched a new official Junior Eurovision Song Contest website ahead of the event.

Artists selected so far

Seven of the 16 participating countries have announced their performers: Eslin Kurti for Albania with "Kërce me mua"; Alec Burette for France; Davit Lomidze for Georgia; Haris Georgiou for Cyprus; Ana Stojanoska for North Macedonia with "Idnata jas"; Wiktor Sas for Poland; and Salvador Rio for Portugal. The Albanian entry is the only song fully published so far, though it is slated for a revamp. The Netherlands and Ukraine have released competing song and candidate lists for their respective national selections.

Ukraine narrows national selection field

Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster, has longlisted 15 acts from a record 642 applications for its national selection. The longlist includes one group, one duo, and thirteen soloists, with Band VYHOR as the largest ensemble. Live auditions will be held on 26 July at Respublika Park Shopping Centre and Neopolis Theme Park in Kyiv. A jury of Svitlana Tarabova, Alyona Alyona and Mélovin will select ten acts for Star School in Bukovel, from which six will advance to the national final in September. A 50/50 split between jury and public vote will determine Ukraine's representative. Ukraine's 2025 representative Sofia Neresesian finished second overall with 177 points on the strength of winning the public vote, the country's best Junior Eurovision result since 2013.

Follow-up milestones

Ukraine's live auditions on 26 July and subsequent Star School in Bukovel are the next verifiable steps, with the Ukrainian national final set for September ahead of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest final on 24 October at the MFCC in Ta' Qali, Malta.