Delegations have begun arriving in Malta ahead of the 24th edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, bringing young singers from across Europe to Ta’ Qali for a week of rehearsals, official activities, and the live final scheduled for October 24, 2026.
The sixteen participating acts are gathering in the country as delegations have begun arriving in Malta for contest week. Early travel brought the first national teams to the Mediterranean island, setting off a packed schedule of preparations at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre.
Delegation Arrivals and the Eurovision Express
North Macedonia and France were among the early arrivals, with their delegations reaching Malta on Friday following evening departures from their home capitals. Ana Stojanoska leads the Macedonian team, while French representative Alec travels with the entry Comment tu vas?
as France targets its fourth victory in the competition.
🇲🇹 The EBU has announced that the Junior #Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be held at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre in Ta'Qali, Malta, on Saturday 24 October.This marks the third time Malta has hosted the contest, following the 2014 and 2016 editions. pic.twitter.com/tBxciHCi1V
Other national teams mounted complex journeys to reach the host nation. Ukraine’s delegation departed Kyiv on an overland train journey dubbed the Eurovision Express, carrying Erika Kolesnichenko to Malta to prepare her performance.
Hosting Details and the Maltese Festa Creative Concept
Malta stepped in to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 after France declined hosting duties following its previous victory. This marks the third time Malta has hosted the event, having previously welcomed the contest in 2014 and 2016.
Organised by Public Broadcasting Services in collaboration with the European Broadcasting Union, this year’s production centers around the UNESCO-recognised Maltese Festa
heritage. Broadcasters invited audiences to unite with us for a unique celebration where Mediterranean tradition and the future of music unite under one sky. It’s music, it’s joy, it’s a festa …. it is the Junior Eurovision Song Contest!
Public Broadcasting Services unveiled the official theme song, RamDamDiriDam
, performed by past Junior Eurovision winners Gaia Cauchi and Destiny alongside host Keane Cutajar.
Performing Acts and Running Order for the Live Final
The sixteen acts confirmed for the contest cover a broad spectrum of languages and styles across Europe. Rehearsals on the island precede the live broadcast on October 24.
- Netherlands: Maria –
Stronger Together
- Cyprus: Harry Georgiou –
Who I Can Be
- Portugal: Salvador Rio –
Alma
- Montenegro: Mija Vujović –
Muzika nas spaja
- San Marino: Violamarie –
Ruota panoramica
- France: Alec –
Comment tu vas ?
- Poland: Wiktor Sas –
Gravity
- Armenia: Naré –
BOO!
- Malta: Beppe Caruana –
Blue Bird
- Italy: Matteo Trullu –
Che Cos’è l’Amore?
- Ukraine: Erika Kolesnichenko –
NE Kolyskova
- North Macedonia: Ana Stojanoska –
Idnata jas
- Ireland: Caleb Kirwan & Naomi Gribben –
Níos láidre
- Albania: Eslin Kurti –
Kërce me mua
- Georgia: Davit Lomidze –
Sun on the Rooftops
- Spain: Lucas Paulano –
Cuore bello (te quiero, te quiero)