Alexandra Redde Amiel, France TV’s head of entertainment and head of the French delegation has just announced the final list of countries that will take part in the 2023 Junior Eurofestival. 16 nations, the same as last year, will take part in the world’s most famous children’s competition.
Following France’ s triumph last year with Lissandro and her song “Oh Maman!”, the country has won the right to host in its most iconic seaside city, the idol of so many, Nice. It will be held at the Palais Nikaïa, an entertainment complex that can hold up to 9000 people on 26 December.
This is the full list of countries that will be in Nice next November:
- 🇩🇪 Germany (NDR)
- 🇦🇲 Armenia (AMPTV)
- 🇦🇱 Albania (RTSH)
- 🇪🇦 Spain (RTVE)
- 🇪🇪 Estonia (ERR)
- 🇲🇫 France (France Télévisions)
- 🇬🇪 Georgia (GPB)
- 🇮🇪 Ireland (TG4)
- 🇮🇹 Italy (RAI)
- 🇲🇰 North Macedonia (MKRTV)
- 🇲🇹 Malta (PBS)
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands (AVROTROS)
- 🇵🇱 Poland (TVP)
- 🇵🇹 Portugal (RTP)
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom (BBC)
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine (UA:PBC)
Make some noise for the 16 countries competing in #JESC2023 – with a special welcome to debutants Estonia! 🇦🇱🇦🇲🇪🇪🇫🇷🇬🇪🇩🇪🇮🇪🇮🇹🇲🇹🇳🇱🇲🇰🇵🇱🇵🇹🇪🇸🇺🇦🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/2JQqE6sRmy
– Junior Eurovision (@EurovisionJr) August 29, 2023
ONE DEBUT, ONE RETURN AND TWO WITHDRAWALS
This year will be characterised by a return to the same number of participants as the first edition, 16 countries that also took part in last year’s 20th anniversary edition.
In the end it has not been possible to have the iconic figure of 20 countries for the 21st anniversary, mainly due to the economic restrictions in Eastern Europe due to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as is the case of Serbia, which is leaving the boat for economic reasons, or the sabbatical year that Khabar, the Kazakhstan public body, has taken due to internal problems. Nevertheless, the 16 participating countries will pay homage to the same number of nations that inaugurated the first Junior Eurovision Song Contest 20 years ago .
Estonia’s debut at this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest is undoubtedly the big and unexpected surprise of this year’s edition. After the bitter losses of Serbia and Kazakhstan, the Baltic’s little brother brings a touch of colour to the contest, which, together with the return of the German delegation, keeps the number of participants stable compared to the previous edition. This is a historic edition, as for the first time we will see the whole Big 5 participating together in the same Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Estonia’s promising new Eurovision adventure reopens the doors of the Baltic countries to Junior Eurovision since Lithuania and Latvia’s agonising joint withdrawal from the 2011 contest more than ten years ago. It is also a new northern European foray into the music contest, which is increasingly dominated by Mediterranean and Central European presence after the exits of Russia, Belarus and eventually Kazakhstan.
“We are delighted to welcome this year’s talented young artists from 16 countries to Nice for the 21st Junior Eurovision Song Contest.”
“It is exciting to return so soon to France, to a new host city, as well as to welcome a new country (Estonia) to the competition. Our colleagues at France TV have once again put together a great creative team to give us all a spectacular show and make the young artists feel like the heroes they are.”
Martin Österdahl, Junior Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor
THE HEROES OF OUR TIME
France Télévisions has chosen “Heroes” as the theme of the event. Rather than a slogan, it was decided to use a word that “inspires and gives children incredible strength” which will be present throughout the event. The logo, also unveiled today, captures the energy of the word “Heroes”, with powerful and joyful colours and a “street art” look that brings modernity and addresses all generations.
The “splashes”, which will also feature the flag of each participating country, are made from a combination of paint, chalk, gunpowder and fireworks. Through the artwork and the theme, France Télévisions wants to create a unique experience for the 21st Junior Eurovision Song Contest and convey an “explosion of happiness in a world where children are the heroes”.
UNIQUE AND SPECTACULAR
The management of France TV is delighted to announce the great show that will be broadcast from France next November at the highest human and television level, with the most modern technology both on stage and behind the scenes, which will rival, without a shadow of a doubt, the major international competitions and even the senior Eurovision Song Contest itself.
“We are very proud to organise the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in France for the second time, thanks again to Lissandro for making this second victory possible, France Télévisions and the whole French delegation look forward to honouring the Contest more than ever, together with the EBU and all the participating countries
Alexandra Redde-Amiel, Director of Variety and Entertainment, France Télévisions
“We are looking forward to creating a unique and spectacular show with outstanding contestants, true musical heroes, as we continue to spread music across Europe and the rest of the world, sharing our cultures and passions. We look forward to welcoming you all to Nice – the show must go on!”
Alexandra Redde-Amiel, Director of Variety and Entertainment, France Télévisions
JUNIOR EUROVISION 2023
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place on Sunday 26 November under the theme “Heroes” and is expected to feature many novelties. France is preparing to host the 21st edition of the children’s contest in the coastal city of Nice. On this occasion, the Palais Nikaïa has been chosen as the venue. Young artists from all over Europe will shine in a festival that returns to the month of November, after two editions held during the Christmas festivities.
As the main novelty of this year’s edition, the logo of the event incorporates the mythical Eurovision heart, just like in the Eurovision Song Contest. Since the generic logo was introduced, this is the first time in the history of the children’s contest that the flag of the host country has been included. Thus, in Nice 2023, the French flag flies inside the heart, which is already a globally recognised icon. The slogan and the official theme art of the 21st edition is made up of colourful and powerful elements.
French television is counting on the great experience of Paris 2021 and will spare no effort and resources to offer us a high-level event that lives up to the format. The aim is to make this 21st edition of the festival “unique and unrepeatable”. Once again, France Télévisions aims to organise Junior Eurovision at the highest level.
France will once again host the competition which will have at its heart a celebration of music, friendship and diversity, where Europe’s young talents will take centre stage.
With two victories to its name, the French country will host the 21st edition of a children’s festival that year after year consolidates itself among young audiences and acquires greater potential and popularity to give visibility to new talents in the world of music.
In 2022, in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, the Karen Demirchyan Complex hosted the competition for the second time in its history, as it did in 2011. There, France was the winner with the young singer Lissandro and his song “Oh Maman! With her charisma and energy in abundance, she managed to win the coveted crystal microphone thanks to 203 points from the national juries and the viewers via online voting.