Malta already has the faces for one of the major events on its television calendar. Gaia Cauchi, Destiny Chukunyere and Keane Cutajar will host Junior Eurovision 2026, as announced this Tuesday by PBS, Malta’s public broadcaster and host of the upcoming edition of the contest.
The choice of the three presenters also has a strong symbolic component. Cauchi and Destiny are part of the contest’s history, having given Malta its two victories at Junior Eurovision, while Cutajar brings his experience as a presenter of major entertainment formats and live television.
The three already know firsthand how a major Eurovision show works. At the beginning of 2026, they were responsible for hosting the Malta Eurovision Song Contest, the country’s national selection for Eurovision 2026, held to choose its representative for Vienna. Now they will share the stage again, although this time before an international audience and with 16 young artists as the protagonists.
An Edition Defined by Maltese Identity
Junior Eurovision 2026 will take place on Saturday, October 24 at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC), in Ta’ Qali. The edition will be built around the concept of The Festa, a theme that seeks to bring one of Malta’s most recognizable traditions to the international stage: the patron saint festivals and popular celebrations held in its local communities.
The proposal aims to combine the country’s festive character with the essence of the children’s contest, focusing on community, music and collective celebration. The goal is for Maltese identity to have a prominent role throughout the show, while allowing viewers to discover part of the culture and traditions of the host country.
On the MFCC stage, 16 young artists from different parts of Europe will compete, facing the performance that could mark the beginning of their respective musical careers.
The organization has already shown a first glimpse of the stage design for this edition, conceived to complement the celebration of The Festa and provide a setting in keeping with the colorful and family-friendly nature of the contest.
Gaia Cauchi, from Malta’s first winner to presenter
The presence of Gaia Cauchi as a host of Junior Eurovision 2026 marks a particularly significant return to the contest that made her a well-known figure in Malta.
Cauchi was just 11 years old when she won Junior Eurovision 2013 with The Start, becoming the first Maltese representative to win the contest. That victory marked a historic moment for the country and ushered in a period of greater prominence for Malta in the children’s contest. Her victory also received institutional recognition. Cauchi was awarded the Ġieħ ir-Repubblika, one of Malta’s highest national honors, in recognition of her achievements.
After her participation in Junior Eurovision, the singer continued developing her artistic career. In 2018, she took part in The X Factor UK, where she reached the Judges’ Houses stage as part of the group Sweet Sense. The team was mentored by Robbie Williams during the program.
In recent years, Cauchi has also maintained a close relationship with new generations of Maltese artists. She currently works as a coach and mentor on The Voice Kids Malta, where she works with young performers and helps them develop their abilities on stage.
Destiny returns to the stage that launched her internationally
Alongside Gaia will be Destiny Chukunyere, the second artist to bring the Junior Eurovision trophy to Malta.
Destiny won the 2015 edition with Not My Soul, giving the country its second victory in just three years. Like Gaia, Destiny was awarded the Midalja ta’ Ġieħ ir-Repubblika following her victory. Her subsequent career was marked by various television and musical experiences. In 2017, she took part in Britain’s Got Talent, where she reached the semifinals. She subsequently won the second edition of X Factor Malta in 2020, a victory that once again placed her at the center of her country’s music scene.
A year later came her second major Eurovision experience. Destiny represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, held in Rotterdam, with Je Me Casse. After making it through the semifinals, she finished seventh in the grand final.
Since then, her relationship with Maltese television has remained particularly active. Destiny has been part of the coaching team on The Voice Kids Malta for three seasons, an experience she shares with Gaia Cauchi. Her return to Junior Eurovision therefore takes on a special dimension: almost a decade after her victory, the artist will return to the contest, but this time on stage as a presenter.
Keane Cutajar, the television face of the trio
The third member of the team will be Keane Cutajar, a Maltese presenter and broadcaster with experience in television, live entertainment and social media content.
Although his career is not linked to the children’s contest in the same way as Cauchi’s and Destiny’s, Cutajar brings the team specific experience in hosting major television productions.
In 2026, he already shared the stage with both artists during the Malta Eurovision Song Contest, Malta’s national selection for Eurovision. That experience allowed the trio to develop a joint dynamic that they will now bring to the Junior Eurovision stage.
Cutajar also has experience in large-scale events. In 2025, he was one of the presenters of Isle of MTV Malta, as well as hosting Michael McIntyre Live in Malta. In addition, he has taken part for two consecutive years in Malta’s national New Year’s Eve celebrations.