Malta is preparing to become the epicentre of European children’s music. The Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali (Malta) will host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on Saturday, 24 October. The Mediterranean island is ready to welcome the 16 delegations that will compete for victory. Malta is once again taking charge of the organisation of the European contest for the third time in its history.
The Eurovision stage will be filled with talent, excitement and music as Junior Eurovision 2026 takes place. The 16 young participants will have the opportunity to perform their entries and fulfil one of their greatest dreams: representing their countries in front of viewers around the world. As it approaches its first quarter-century, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest will once again be held under the slogan “United By Music”, highlighting the spirit of unity that defines the contest. This time, there is an added incentive: inviting us to join and become part of the great Maltese “festa”, where music, tolerance and diversity are an essential part of the show.
With the big event drawing ever closer, the time has come to turn the spotlight on its protagonists and discover the details of each of the 16 entries that will compete for the coveted crystal microphone. For many of them, what began as a dream in front of the television is about to become a reality on the Junior Eurovision stage.
This time, we explore the biography and professional career of Lucas Paulano, Spain’s representative at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The young artist secured his ticket to Ta’ Qali after being internally selected by RTVE, following his win in 2025 in the 10th edition of ‘La Voz Kids’ on Antena 3. His selection opened the doors to the contest, where he will fly his country’s flag with “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)”.
How did his journey towards Junior Eurovision begin? What made him fall in love with music? What are his biggest dreams? And what does the song he will perform on the Ta’ Qali stage mean? Through his story, we get to know young Lucas Paulano, who is taking part in this 24th edition, a little better.
Meet Lucas Paulano: a young voice from Jaén with a love of classic ballads
Lucas Paulano Castillo was born in Jaén on 22 May 2016. A singer and pianist, he discovered his passion for music very early on. In fact, he started singing when he was only about 3 years old, listening to his father, an amateur musician and member of the group ‘Vientos del Sur’, and singing along as he played the guitar, quickly showing vocal qualities beyond his years.
He lives with his parents, Jesús Paulano and Joana Castillo, and his brother Marcos. Those closest to him say he was born with a natural talent and an ability to interpret songs that he has refined as he has grown up. His father has played a key role as his great role model and guide: he was the one who recognised his potential, and he has also become his manager.
The young artist explains that his calling emerged spontaneously within the family, as he imitated and hummed the songs his father performed at home. From there, he went on to the church, where he had his first opportunity to sing in public, although he also remembers singing in a hotel when he was 4 years old.
Academically, Lucas Paulano combines his primary school studies at Colegio Divino Maestro in Jaén with formal musical training. He studies piano at the Conservatorio Profesional de Música Ramón Garay. The school’s head teacher, Patro Vílchez, has said that everyone there is extremely proud that a member of the school’s big family is standing out as an artist, and that it is wonderful to see him enjoy so much success.
His musical tastes are unusual for someone so young. While most children his age listen to today’s urban music, Lucas Paulano prefers the great names of Spanish-language music, such as Rocío Jurado, Mercedes Sosa, Camilo Sesto and Luis Miguel.
His first steps in front of an audience
Talent does not always wait for big stages to flourish; sometimes all it needs is a guitar and a school playground. Before moving the whole country and winning ‘La Voz Kids’ in 2025, Lucas Paulano was giving his first public performances at his local church and at Colegio Divino Maestro in Jaén.
One of his first performances took place in a completely everyday setting. Wearing his school uniform and watched by his curious primary school classmates, the young singer from Jaén gave a moving performance, singing in public during the school’s Peace Day celebration.
There, he sang José Luis Perales’ “Que canten los niños”. Beside him, keeping time, was his father, Jesús, who, together with other members of ‘Vientos del Sur’, accompanied his son’s voice on guitar, creating a moment full of complicity and sensitivity that won over everyone present.
‘La Voz Kids’: the springboard that made Lucas Paulano a household name
Lucas Paulano’s journey on ‘La Voz Kids’ began in a very special way. His arrival on the show was a family initiative: it was his brother, Marcos, who decided to sign him up on his own, with the support of their uncle Pedro. He did the casting in Seville and from there made the leap to television as one of the lucky few selected.
In the Blind Auditions, the young singer took to the stage with remarkable confidence to perform “Luz de luna”, the song made famous by Mexican singer Javier Solís, and several coaches wanted him on their teams. As soon as he started singing, his remarkable voice sparked a real strategic battle between the coaches.
The impact was such that there was a double “super block”. David Bisbal used it against Edurne, and Manuel Turizo immediately responded by blocking David Bisbal. Because of this blocking mechanism in the format, Lucas Paulano joined Manuel Turizo’s team, marking the start of a perfect musical partnership. With him, he kept growing throughout the competition thanks to performances full of sensitivity and vocal quality.
As the competition progressed, the demands grew, but Lucas Paulano kept raising his game. In the Battles, the young artist showed that he could sing as part of a group, blend with his teammates and, at the same time, shine in his own right thanks to his flawless high notes and his command of the stage. In the Great Battle, he went through to the next round with “Dígale” by David Bisbal.
In the Knockouts, under the watchful eye of Manuel Turizo and the show’s advisers, Lucas Paulano confirmed once again why he had become the one to beat. He earned a fast pass to the final stage. He did so with the same song he had performed at the Blind Auditions, “Luz de luna”. In the semi-final, he chose the emotional “Amor eterno”, popularised by the late Rocío Dúrcal, whom he has named as one of his musical role models.
In the grand final, Lucas Paulano moved the audience with his performance of “Algo de mí” by Camilo Sesto, which he described as his favourite song. That performance has now passed 6.7 million views on YouTube.
He also shared the stage with Kapo and fellow contestant Geraldine Aranda on “Uwaie”, and joined his voice with Manuel Turizo’s on “Quiéreme mientras se pueda”. In the end, young Lucas Paulano took the victory, which was also Manuel Turizo’s first win as a coach on the show.
Although the show’s grand final was broadcast on 19 July 2025, it had been recorded several months earlier, in December 2024. With the trophy hidden at home and unable to tell anyone what had happened for all that time, it was not easy for him to keep the secret of his win. In fact, the family had to hide the trophy whenever visitors came to the house.
That is why he later wanted to apologise, especially to his classmates at Colegio Divino Maestro, from whom he had to keep the result secret throughout.
Once the final had been broadcast and the result was public, Lucas Paulano was received at Jaén City Hall, which congratulated him on his thrilling victory. Together with his family, he was welcomed by the Mayor of Jaén, Julio Millán, Second Deputy Mayor África Colomo and Fourth Deputy Mayor Luis García Millán.
After the win: his musical take-off and first single
Lucas Paulano is regarded as one of the most promising young voices in Spanish music. His voice, naturalness and charisma have won over audiences, and his time on ‘La Voz Kids’ marked the start of a promising artistic career.
By winning the show at just 8 years old (his age when the final was recorded), he received the trophy, a €10,000 music training scholarship and the chance to record a single with Universal Music. He soon made his debut with his first single, “Todo Sigue Igual”.
The debut single was released on 18 December 2025 on Universal Music, and Lucas Paulano co-wrote the song with Alejandro Jaén and William Paz, with arrangements by Luigi Flores.
The lyrics are dedicated to his grandfather. They pay tribute to the memory and emotional impact of those who are no longer with us but remain alive in everyday surroundings. With an intimate and very visual performance, the young singer moves between silences, images of home and a sense of longing that stands out for its authenticity at such an early age. His clear voice becomes the backbone of a sincere story that goes straight to the heart.
This release reflects Lucas Paulano’s evolution from contestant to solo artist with a voice of his own.
Although he has always stood out for his performances of classic ballads, this song places him in the territory of heartfelt, timeless pop, designed to give continuity to his musical career. The song sums up one firm idea: despite his sudden success and media attention, the young performer has kept his values and his personality intact.
December 2025 also brought another release. Lucas Paulano took part in a collective project, the album “Así canta nuestra tierra en Navidad” (Volume XLIII). It is a Christmas record linked to a charity concert promoted by Fundación Cajasol.
On that Christmas album, Lucas Paulano sings “Esto suena a Navidad”. As well as releasing it on streaming platforms, he performed it live at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville during the traditional Christmas charity gala ‘Así canta nuestra tierra en Navidad’, held on 15 December 2025. The gala was broadcast on Canal Sur on 23 December.
A promise kept, a stage conquered: on tour with Manuel Turizo
Lucas Paulano’s musical journey reached another milestone after his win on ‘La Voz Kids’. His charisma and vocal talent won over not only the television audience but also his own mentor and coach throughout the competition, Manuel Turizo. True to the promise he had made on the show, the Colombian singer invited the young artist from Jaén to join the Spanish dates of his international tour, the 201 Tour.
The chance to see the pair together on stage became a reality in 2025, at major venues in three cities: Granada (5 October), Madrid (23 October) and Seville (24 October). Thousands of spectators attended. For Lucas Paulano, who had only just turned 9, performing in arenas of that size was another giant leap in his career, following his modest performances at church and school and his time on television.
Undaunted by the huge crowds, he surprised everyone with remarkable stage presence and confidence for his age.
The high point of each concert came when the two artists joined their voices, blending the Colombian star’s urban and romantic style with the young Andalusian’s deep sensitivity as a performer. Manuel Turizo did not just share his stage. He also acted as a guide, allowing the young singer to shine in his own right in moments that moved the audience. The bond between mentor and pupil showed that the connection forged on the television set was completely genuine and went beyond the screen.
This joint tour was an excellent introduction to the music industry. The experience gained alongside an international star also gave him the stage experience and confidence he needed for the demanding projects that came straight afterwards.
A viral but very real encounter with the King and Queen
On 17 March 2026, during an official visit to Jaén by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to mark the 1,200th anniversary of the city’s status as a capital, Lucas Paulano was at the centre of a moment that went viral. Without a microphone, he sang the anthem of Jaén in front of the royal couple.
His performance visibly moved Queen Letizia, who exclaimed “¡Olé!” when he finished. He earned spontaneous applause from everyone present, including the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, and the Mayor of Jaén, Julio Millán, who were accompanying the King and Queen.
It happened during the official programme, in the moments before the royal couple arrived at the Salón Mudéjar of the Palacio del Condestable Iranzo. There, the composure and powerful a cappella voice of Lucas Paulano, then just 9 years old, created that magical and unforgettable moment. In fact, the King and Queen came over to greet him and his family and congratulate him in person. They told him that he sang very well and encouraged him to keep up his studies.
The video of his performance in front of the King and Queen quickly spread across the internet and reached several television channels. It became one of the most shared moments of those days. As a result, he was interviewed on Canal Sur’s ‘Andalucía Directo’ and invited to the set of Telecinco’s ‘Fiesta’ to talk about it. The news also spread like wildfire at his school, where his classmates welcomed him with praise.
Alongside Shakira on her big return to Madrid
The rise of Lucas Paulano brought another unforgettable experience on Friday 18 September 2026 at Macondo Park in Madrid. As part of ES LATINA, the cultural platform promoted by the Colombian star, with RTVE as media partner, the young singer from Jaén was one of a select group of around 50 artists linked to Benidorm Fest and Junior Eurovision. There, he was also able to meet Spain’s representative from last year, Gonzalo Pinillos.
At 10 years old, Lucas Paulano took on the role of “caminante” (walker) with complete ease. He walked alongside Shakira towards the main stage at the first of her Madrid concerts on her ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’ World Tour, in front of some 55,000 spectators.
During this special walk, the ‘La Voz Kids’ winner shared the spotlight with big names in today’s Spanish pop such as Chanel, Vicco and Nebulossa. Together, they accompanied “La Loba” on her triumphant return to the Spanish capital. The appearance gave him one more experience on a big stage, just weeks before his major international event at Junior Eurovision.
Simplicity and authenticity beyond the stage
Beyond music, Lucas Paulano has very clear tastes and enjoys the little things in everyday life. When it comes to food, he knows exactly what his favourite dish is: potatoes with egg.
One of his great companions is his favourite soft toy, Dudú, a little rabbit that has been with him since he was born. His mother used to give it to him when he was a baby and, ever since, Lucas Paulano has had a special bond with it, making it one of those objects that have been part of his whole life.
Those who know Lucas Paulano highlight his kind nature, his simplicity and his authentic approach to life. Although he is confident on stage, off it he is a boy full of energy who is not one for sitting still, something that shows in the wide range of activities he enjoys.
Sport is one of his great passions and takes up a large part of his free time. He loves playing football, usually as a left winger, and swimming, as he feels he has a natural aptitude for sport in general. This hobby lets him burn off his energy while balancing physical exercise with his musical and school commitments.
Cooking is another activity he enjoys when he is not singing or playing sport. It is one more interest to add to the list and a sign that Lucas Paulano finds different ways to spend his free time away from the stage.
His curiosity goes well beyond physical and creative activities. Lucas Paulano is very attached to his homeland, is interested in everything around him and has a special passion for learning new things, especially when they are related to science. This eagerness to discover and learn goes hand in hand with being a good student, which he combines with his training at school and at the conservatoire.
Lucas Paulano also enjoys spending time with his classmates at school and at the conservatoire. These are two important places in his daily life, where he has been able to build great friendships while continuing his academic and musical education. Then there are the many friendships he made during his time on ‘La Voz Kids’ and the ones he is eager to make with the other participants at Junior Eurovision 2026, whom he can’t wait to meet in person.
He is also looking forward to showing everyone the staging that has been prepared for him, and he is very excited because, from the pictures he has seen, the stage in Malta is huge. He also sees a positive side to closing the show, as he believes the last performance is always the one people remember.
Above all, what stands out about Lucas Paulano is his naturalness and simplicity: those of a boy facing a major international event without losing his spontaneity. He is approaching his trip to Malta with the excitement of someone heading off on an adventure: as well as giving his all on stage, he hopes to have time for a swim at its beaches. That unpretentious authenticity is precisely what allows him to connect so directly with the audience.
The road to Junior Eurovision 2026: internal selection by RTVE after winning ‘La Voz Kids’
In a change from recent years, the public broadcaster decided to select its representative internally this year, without a prior open call for applications. That had been the format it had used between 2022 and 2025. Instead, RTVE held a two-day casting with 16 young artists, who were contacted through industry professionals or had links to previous editions, and Lucas Paulano was chosen from among them.
Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) revealed its representative for the children’s contest in the summer, on Thursday 30 July, on ‘El perro andaluz’, presented by comedian Manu Sánchez. It coincided with the programme’s season finale.
Once again, the broadcaster chose to make this major announcement in prime time on one of its most-watched shows of the day. The show had been the ratings leader in six of its seven previous broadcasts. As a special touch, the young singer performed “Grande amore”, the song with which Il Volo represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 after winning the Sanremo Festival.
The news of his selection came as a complete surprise to Lucas Paulano, and his joy on finding out that he would represent Spain at Junior Eurovision 2026 in Malta was captured on camera. RTVE later shared the full video of his reaction on its social media.
Así fue la reacción al completo de @LucasPaulano al enterarse de que representará a España en #EurovisionJunior 2026 🥹✨ pic.twitter.com/J44jMGZlSX
— Eurovisión España – RTVE 🇪🇸 (@eurovision_tve) August 3, 2026
The RTVE committee considered several criteria when choosing Lucas Paulano. They included vocal quality and personality, performance skills, presence and ease in front of the cameras, artistic personality, international potential and the suitability of the candidate for the specific characteristics of Junior Eurovision.
After completing the casting and assessing the candidates, the committee agreed “unanimously” to select Lucas Paulano as Spain’s representative in 2026. The Junior Eurovision 2026 selection committee at RTVE was made up as follows:
- César Vallejo: co-director of Benidorm Fest and Spain’s head of delegation at the Eurovision Song Contest and Junior Eurovision.
- María Eizaguirre: RTVE’s Director of Communications and Participation.
- Ana María Bordas: co-director of Benidorm Fest.
- Sergio Calderón: director of Televisión Española (TVE).
- Miriam García Corrales: executive producer at RTVE.
- Verónica Ferreiro (adviser): singer, songwriter and vocal coach.
- Javier Pageo (adviser): stage designer.
Discover “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)”, Lucas Paulano’s entry representing Spain at Junior Eurovision 2026
Spanish music now has its soundtrack to win over Europe at the children’s contest. “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)” is the song with which young Lucas Paulano from Jaén will represent Spain at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Malta. Far from being a merely commercial entry, it is a moving and elegant ballad that showcases the powerful voice and expressive sensitivity of the 10-year-old artist.
The central message of “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)” moves away from traditional romantic love. Instead, it explores a much more universal and profound idea: memory, affection and the recollections that stay in our hearts forever.
The song’s title links the heartbeat directly with identity, offering a nostalgic yet luminous look at the people and moments from childhood that define us and stay with us throughout our lives. Those memories become an unbreakable emotional refuge.
The song is a faithful fit for Lucas Paulano’s style and great sensitivity, built around a very emotional concept: the idea that “to remember” literally means “to pass through the heart again”.
This premise draws directly on the etymology of the Latin word recordari, formed by combining the prefix re- (meaning repetition, or doing something again) with the root cor or cordis (heart). In this way, the song turns a linguistic concept into a poetic musical refuge, connecting heartbeats, identity and childhood experiences in a unique way.
The song is about how love is bound up with memory, evoking the memories of our loved ones, whether they are still with us or not. Those memories act as a powerful source of inspiration, light and strength in our lives.
Throughout the lyrics, Lucas Paulano moves us by reminding us that all the moments we have shared with those people help us grow and become who we are, or who we want to be.
The expression “cuore bello” (“beautiful heart”) thus becomes a declaration of love for that special person, while a melody that returns on the wind keeps the memory alive. The song conveys the idea that remembering means passing through the heart again, reliving what stays with us even as time moves on.
“Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)” is sung in Spanish and once again includes a phrase in another language, in this case Italian. Spain has done something similar in recent years: in 2023, Sandra Valero’s “Loviu” mixed Spanish with English, French, Italian and Portuguese, and last year, in 2025, Gonzalo Pinillos’ “Érase Una Vez (Once Upon A Time)” featured parts in French and English.
Behind the musical architecture of this entry is a top-level songwriting team with close ties to the Eurovision world. Lucas Paulano himself took an active part in writing the song, joining forces with renowned artist Blas Cantó (Spain’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021) and songwriters Dangelo Ortega and Carlos Almazán. Together, they have shaped a ballad that combines intimate, delicate verses with an explosion of power in the choruses, tailored to show off Lucas Paulano’s voice.
This emotional depth is beautifully reflected in the official music video, directed by Jimmy Llamas, in which the concept of memory comes to life. The set recreates a bedroom full of nostalgic objects: postcards, toys, miniature aeroplanes, merry-go-rounds, a spinning top and a small Ferris wheel.
The most emotional element is the appearance of Dudú, the real soft-toy rabbit that has been with Lucas Paulano since the day he was born. It rests next to a wooden box that symbolises the chest where we keep our most treasured experiences. The protagonist keeps a kiss, shared stories and even a souvenir from a fairground ride in his memory, elements that allow him to travel back in his mind to happy moments from the past.
The Spanish team spared no detail in the music video. With choreography by Bel Lledó, it features 22 dancers and two musicians: a girl at the piano and a very special family touch, with his brother Marcos on the violin, a nod that reinforces, in a real and natural way, the song’s message of family unity and shared memories.
RTVE has gone one step further with the entry and recorded a symphonic version of the song, as it had previously done with Junior Eurovision entry “Marte” by Melani (2019) and with Spain’s Eurovision Song Contest entries “Amanecer” by Edurne (2015) and “Esa Diva” by Melody (2025). It was recorded at the Teatro Monumental in Madrid. There, Lucas Paulano joined the RTVE Symphony Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Miguel Guerra. The recording takes the song into a new sonic universe in which the strings and choir heighten its emotional nuances.
Lucas Paulano admitted he was deeply moved during the recording: “It’s a moment that will stay in my heart for the rest of my life”.
The recording day for the symphonic version had a very special element thanks to the participation of more than 300 children from different schools in the Community of Madrid. The pupils were able to join Lucas Paulano during the rehearsals and the recording, meet him in person and send him their best wishes before his trip to Malta, host of Junior Eurovision 2026.
One of the most emotional moments of the day came with the creation of a large mural of hearts. Each pupil wrote their most beautiful memory on a small paper heart, which was then added to a collective artwork bringing together hundreds of experiences, feelings and unforgettable moments.
It was an initiative directly connected to the message of “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)”, a song that celebrates the value of memories and of the people who leave their mark on our lives.
Lyrics to “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)” by Lucas Paulano, Spain’s entry at Junior Eurovision 2026
Spanish / Italian
Tengo
Un beso guardado en la memoria
Y recuerdo
Cuando yo contaba mis historias
También tengo
Un tique guardado de la noria
Y ese sueño en mi cabeza
Gira y gira sin parar
Un viaje en el tiempo pediría
Para poder volver a cuando alguien me decía
Cuore bello
Con ojos de cielo
Te quiero, te quiero
Lo más bonito para mi
Cuore bello
El sol en tu pelo
Te quiero, te quiero
Mi corazón es para ti
CUORE BELLO
CUORE BELLO
CUORE BELLO
CUORE BELLO, CUORE BELLO
Siempre volverá
Conmigo estará
Esa melodía
Que cantaba noche y día
Ahora vuelve con el viento
Y la escucho todavía
Cuore bello
Con ojos de cielo
Te quiero, te quiero
Lo más bonito para mi
Cuore bello
El sol en tu pelo
Te quiero, te quiero
Mi corazón es para ti
CUORE BELLO
CUORE BELLO
CUORE BELLO
CUORE BELLO, CUORE BELLO
Tengo
Un beso guardado en la memoria
Y recuerdo
Cuando yo contaba mis historias…
Cuore bello
Con ojos de cielo
Te quiero, te quiero
Lo más bonito para mi
Cuore bello
El sol en tu pelo
Te quiero, te quiero
Mi corazón es para ti
CUORE BELLO
CUORE BELLO
CUORE BELLO
CUORE BELLO, CUORE BELLO
English
I have
A kiss kept safe in my memory
And I remember
When I used to tell my stories
I also have
A ticket I kept from the Ferris wheel
And that dream in my head
Keeps spinning round and round
I would ask for a journey through time
So I could go back to when someone used to tell me
Beautiful heart
With eyes like the sky
I love you, I love you
The most beautiful thing for me
Beautiful heart
The sun in your hair
I love you, I love you
My heart is yours
BEAUTIFUL HEART
BEAUTIFUL HEART
BEAUTIFUL HEART
BEAUTIFUL HEART, BEAUTIFUL HEART
It will always come back
It will stay with me
That melody
That was sung night and day
Now comes back on the wind
And I can still hear it
Beautiful heart
With eyes like the sky
I love you, I love you
The most beautiful thing for me
Beautiful heart
The sun in your hair
I love you, I love you
My heart is yours
BEAUTIFUL HEART
BEAUTIFUL HEART
BEAUTIFUL HEART
BEAUTIFUL HEART, BEAUTIFUL HEART
I have
A kiss kept safe in my memory
And I remember
When I used to tell my stories…
Beautiful heart
With eyes like the sky
I love you, I love you
The most beautiful thing for me
Beautiful heart
The sun in your hair
I love you, I love you
My heart is yours
BEAUTIFUL HEART
BEAUTIFUL HEART
BEAUTIFUL HEART
BEAUTIFUL HEART, BEAUTIFUL HEART
Enjoy all the songs from Junior Eurovision 2026 on the ESCplus playlist on Spotify:
Spain at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Spain made its Junior Eurovision debut in Copenhagen in 2003, as one of the 16 countries that took part in the very first contest. In that first edition, Sergio García finished 2nd with 125 points with “Desde El Cielo”.
The following year, in Lillehammer (Norway), María Isabel won with “Antes Muerta Que Sencilla” and 171 points, which remains Spain’s only victory to date. She swept the vote with eight sets of 12 points, from Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland, and the Spanish entry received points from every country.
Another 2nd place in 2005 and a 4th place in 2006 brought a successful first chapter for Spain at Junior Eurovision to a close. Over those four consecutive editions, the contest became very popular with Spanish audiences, thanks in large part to the national selections RTVE used to choose its representatives, such as ‘Eurojunior’.
Those years also launched the careers of many singers who are still part of the Spanish music scene today, such as Blas Cantó (who represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021), Dani Fernández and Antonio José. Despite the contest’s success, the public broadcaster decided to withdraw in 2007, arguing that it “encouraged stereotypes that it did not share”. During the years of absence, public interest in Junior Eurovision remained. The EBU also tried, without success, to bring Spain back.
Finally, on 25 June 2019, RTVE announced its long-awaited return, 13 years after its last participation.
In this second era, the broadcaster initially opted for internal selections and maintained the high standard of earlier years: both Melani with “Marte” in Gliwice-Silesia 2019 and Soleá with “Palante” in Poland 2020 achieved an excellent 3rd place. In Paris 2021, Levi Díaz finished 15th with 77 points with “Reír”.
At the 20th edition of the contest, held in Yerevan (Armenia) in 2022, Carlos Higes finished 6th with 137 points with “Señorita”. In Nice 2023, Sandra Valero and “Loviu” came close to winning the coveted crystal microphone at the Palais Nikaïa, with 201 points and an excellent 2nd place. In Madrid 2024, Chloe DelaRosa finished 6th with 144 points with “Como La Lola”.
At the most recent edition, Tbilisi 2025, Gonzalo Pinillos competed with “Érase Una Vez (Once Upon A Time)” and finished 5th with 152 points. He was 4th with the national juries, while in the online vote he finished 8th, level on points with Azerbaijan. The contest was won by France, with Lou Deleuze and “Ce monde”.
In 2026, Spain will take part in Junior Eurovision for the 12th time. On Saturday 24 October, Lucas Paulano will close the show at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali, performing 16th and last. He will sing “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)”. It is the latest chapter in a story that began in Copenhagen in 2003.