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 competing for victory. Malta is once again taking charge of organising 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 before viewers around the world. As it approaches its first quarter-century, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest will once again take place under the slogan “United By Music”, reaffirming the spirit of unity that defines the competition. This time, there is an added attraction: an invitation for us to join in the great Maltese “festa”, where music, tolerance and diversity are essential parts of the show.
With the big event drawing ever closer, the time has come to focus on its stars and discover the details of each of the 16 entries competing 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 Maria, the Netherlands’ representative at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The young artist secured her ticket to Ta’ Qali after winning the renowned Dutch national selection, Junior Songfestival. Her selection opened the doors to the contest, where she will fly her country’s flag with “Stronger Together”.
How did her journey towards Junior Eurovision begin? What made her fall in love with music? What are her biggest dreams? And what does the song she will perform on the Ta’ Qali stage mean? Through her story, we get to know young Maria, who is taking part in this 24th edition, a little better.
Meet Maria: a little star with the soul of musical theatre
Maria René Dragan, known professionally as Maria, is a young Dutch singer who, at the age of 10, has become the Netherlands’ representative at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
She was born on 22 September 2016 and currently lives in Groningen, in the northern Netherlands. From a very young age, she has built a particularly close relationship with music, singing, dance and the world of entertainment.
Young Maria was born in Italy and spent several years of her childhood in London. She has now been living in the Netherlands for more than two years, having moved there with her parents. This journey across different countries and cultures forms part of the background against which she has developed her artistic personality. Her home is now in Groningen, where she lives with her mother, her father and her little dog, Zowie.
Indeed, her family plays a fundamental role in her life. When asked what she could not do without, she answers without hesitation: her family. Likewise, when asked to name her biggest admirers, she does not hesitate either: her father and mother.
Maria is currently in Year 7 of Dutch primary education in Groningen. On a more personal level, she describes herself as spontaneous, cheerful and fun. Away from the stage, she particularly enjoys drawing, spending time with her friends and family, and roller skating, an activity she says she is quite good at.
An early interest in music
Maria began singing when she was very young. When she was four years old, her parents discovered that she had a talent for singing, although she herself remembers that her relationship with music began even earlier.
One of the first things to spark her enthusiasm was the film ‘Frozen’, especially its original soundtrack. As she explained in an interview, she began singing songs from the film when she was just three years old. Some time later, that childhood interest began to develop into a genuine passion for singing.
Her formal musical training began at the age of four, and from then on she started receiving more professional instruction. Among those supporting her training is her vocal coach Olga, who is associated with STXRMCOLLECTIVE and is known on social media for her work on children’s vocal technique.
Maria’s training is not limited to singing. Her artistic profile combines voice, instruments, music, dance and acting, a combination particularly well suited to her fascination with musical theatre. She also has a piano at home and enjoys playing it for her family. The instrument allows her to explore music from another perspective, rather than limiting herself to performing other artists’ songs.
From training to her first professional stage
Although she had been training for years, Maria’s public career is still very recent. 17 November 2025 is a date written in gold in the young artist’s life. Maria experienced one of the most important moments of her short career up to that point: her first concert before a large audience.
On her social media, she described that performance as one of the most exciting and overwhelming experiences of her life. For Maria, it represented a dream coming true: for the first time, she could discover what it was like to sing in front of a large audience after years of training. Her message after that debut perfectly summed up the moment: she had done it, and she wanted it to be only the beginning.
Junior Songfestival 2026: a decisive leap
In 2026, Maria entered Junior Songfestival, the traditional Dutch competition used to select the country’s representative at Junior Eurovision.
After she progressed through the different stages of the competition, broadcaster AVROTROS introduced Maria as the youngest participant in the national final, when she was still nine years old. The broadcaster also highlighted that, despite her young age, she wanted to continue developing in both singing and dance, two fundamental pillars of Junior Songfestival.
When Rotterdam Ahoy came alive to the sound of her “Stronger Together”, Maria experienced one of the most unforgettable moments of her life, especially when she was announced as the winner. It was then that her emotions overcame her. Maria burst into tears and, when asked what she was feeling, simply replied that she was feeling “everything”.
For a girl whose biggest dream was to become a singer, that night meant much more than winning a competition: it meant securing her ticket to the international stage.
During Junior Songfestival, Maria also formed closer bonds with other participants, especially Noud, who is from Haren and is a member of The Crossovers. Despite competing against one another, the two became friends. Maria’s classmates and school friends also followed the competition closely, and some even travelled to Rotterdam to support her.
This human element matters because it shows that Junior Songfestival is more than a competition. It is also an experience of learning and spending time together for very young artists.
Maria faces the challenge of performing on stage
Experience does not mean that Maria is completely immune to nerves. Before Junior Songfestival 2026, she acknowledged that performing before many people could be intimidating. However, she had developed a small strategy for dealing with those moments: telling herself that she can do it and that everything will turn out well.
It is an interesting feature of her artistic personality. Maria acknowledges her nerves but tries to turn them into energy for her performance.
Her progress is particularly striking because her debut before a large audience had taken place only a few months earlier. In a relatively short time, she went from experiencing a big stage for the first time to competing on national television and, eventually, winning the Dutch national selection.
Major musical role models and influences
During her short professional career, Maria has been developing a fairly varied range of influences. Her main role models include Connie Francis, one of the great female voices of American popular music; Adele, whose vocal power and expressive style seem particularly suited to the kind of singer Maria aspires to become; Olivia Rodrigo, who represents a more contemporary generation; Teddy Swims, known for his highly expressive vocal performances; and Sia, another artist associated with a strong vocal identity.
The songs she has shared on social media offer an even clearer insight into the breadth of her tastes. Over the years, Maria has posted covers or excerpts of songs such as “Pretty Little Baby” by Connie Francis, “One and Only” by Adele, and “Defying Gravity” from the musical film ‘Wicked’. She has also worked on her vocals with “Reflection”, from the original soundtrack of ‘Mulan’, in the version popularised by Christina Aguilera.
Her repertoire is therefore not limited to children’s pop, as Maria includes songs that require different types of vocal performance, ranging from classics to major musical theatre numbers.
Her passion for ‘Wicked’ and musical theatre
One of Maria’s most interesting qualities is her love of musical theatre. Her favourite film is ‘Wicked’, and her fondness for this story is particularly significant because it is one of the major productions in contemporary musical theatre and also has an important connection with Dutch theatre. The original production of ‘Wicked’ featured, among others, Chantal Janzen, a presenter of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, in the role of Glinda.
The musical tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman with green skin, and Glinda, who is popular and charismatic. The Dutch production also had particular international significance because Willemijn Verkaik, after playing Elphaba in the Netherlands, went on to play the character on Broadway. It is therefore unsurprising that a girl interested in singing, dancing, acting and storytelling should find ‘Wicked’ a particularly appealing source of inspiration.
One revealing detail deserves attention: Maria often chooses “Defying Gravity”, one of Elphaba’s major numbers, to practise and share on social media. It demands a very different vocal performance from a conventional pop song and allows her to combine acting, emotion and vocal power.
A little artist with a big voice and many talents, dreaming of an artistic career
Rather than defining herself solely as a singer, Maria is building a profile as a multidisciplinary artist. Singing is her main passion and the centre of her artistic ambitions. Alongside it are instruments, particularly the piano. Dance is also part of her artistic training and one of the areas in which she wants to continue developing. Finally, there is acting, whether in musical theatre or film. In the latter case, she has a particular fondness for musical films and stories that combine music and acting.
This combination explains why her professional ambition goes beyond simply “being famous”. Maria has said that she “wants to be an artist” and show who she is through her voice and lyrics.
For the young artist, music is magic. Hence her motto: “Music is the strongest form of magic”. It is a phrase that sums up her personal philosophy particularly well. For Maria, music is more than entertainment. It is a means of expressing herself and communicating.
Her dream is to become a great singer, but when she talks about the future, she also emphasises something more personal: she wants to show who she is through her voice and her own lyrics.
That ambition is particularly interesting at such a young age. She currently performs songs written by professional songwriters, but her long-term vision also points towards becoming an artist capable of developing an identity of her own as a performer and, potentially, as a songwriter.
A future singer… or veterinarian
Like any ten-year-old girl, Maria also considers a completely different alternative. When asked what she would like to be when she grows up if she does not become a singer, she answers that she would like to be a veterinarian.
The answer fits with her love of animals and the role her little dog Zowie plays in her daily life. However, when it comes to her biggest dream, there is little doubt: she wants to be a singer.
In this respect, one of the loveliest messages she has shared during her musical adventure is aimed specifically at other children who want to work in entertainment. Her advice is simple: do not be afraid, show your talent and enjoy the adventure.
It is an idea that reflects her own journey quite well. Maria went from receiving training as a young child to facing her first big stage, then entering a television competition and, above all, winning it. In a way, her story so far is that very advice put into practice.
From Groningen to Malta: destination Junior Eurovision
Maria’s victory now represents an enormous leap. From being a girl who sang at home and took lessons from a young age, she has become the Netherlands’ representative on one of the leading international music stages for young people.
At 10 years old, Maria is one of the youngest Dutch representatives in recent Junior Eurovision history. However, her age does not entirely define her profile.
Behind this young artist is an artistic career that is beginning to stand out. Supported by her training and diverse musical influences, Maria wants to develop an identity of her own.
Her emerging national and international fame has not made the young singer forget the side of her that is still entirely that of a child. Her parents remain her greatest support, and she considers them her biggest fans. Perhaps that combination is precisely one of Maria’s most interesting characteristics: between the piano at home and the Junior Eurovision 2026 stage, there is still a girl discovering what kind of artist she wants to become.
Maria René, at just 10 years old, is taking her first steps towards the dream she has been imagining for years: becoming a singer and telling the world who she is through music.
Discover “Stronger Together”, Maria’s entry representing the Netherlands at Junior Eurovision 2026
Maria will represent the Netherlands at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with “Stronger Together”. The song was composed by Mell Jonk and Ton Dijkman, published by AVRO Muziekuitgeverij and Warner Chappell Music. The entry was recorded at Wisseloord Studios.
The entry combines Dutch and English, with Maria’s voice as its central element, lending strength to the narrative and conveying a message of unity, empathy and hope, particularly in the face of a world where prejudice, misunderstanding and pain exist.
The central idea appears from the beginning, when the voice in the song asks whether the other person believes in her and considers what happens when two people meet without truly knowing one another. The question of whether someone simply walks past or stops to connect with another person represents the importance of looking beyond appearances and opening up to others.
Maria, the Netherlands’ representative at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 | Image: Marc Mingels – AVROTROS
One of the most important messages is that differences should not divide us. The song describes a society where pain, misunderstanding and conflict exist, but proposes responding to them through solidarity. The expression “stronger together” sums up precisely that idea: united, we can face difficulties more effectively.
There is also a reflection on prejudice and appearances. The song expresses the idea that everyone has a story and emotions that are not always visible. Therefore, before judging someone, we need to try to get to know and understand them.
The references to colouring the world and walking “hand in hand” act as metaphors for hope. “Colouring” can be interpreted as bringing diversity, understanding and humanity to a world that sometimes seems dominated by pain. Walking together symbolises cooperation and the building of a shared future.
Maria has explained that the song is about the need for people to be a little kinder to one another, and for us not to walk past others with indifference. It is a message about empathy that seems particularly well suited to the personality Maria has shown during the selection process. The singer sees the contest as a show and an experience to enjoy, rather than a competition.
Lyrics to “Stronger Together” by Maria, the Netherlands’ entry at Junior Eurovision 2026
Dutch / English
Heb jij geloof in mij
Want ik geloof in jou
Als je mij niet kent
Loop jij mij voorbij
Of blijf je staan en raken
Onze werelden elkaar
Want ik geloof in ons
We hebben toch elkaar
Het is een rare soms
De wereld waar we nu voor staan
Maar ik geloof in ons
We’re stronger together
De wereld is te klein
Te klein voor stil verdriet
Voor onbegrip en pijn
Dat pikken we toch niet
Dus laten wij de slimsten zijn
Kleuren de wereld in het verschiet
Hand in hand
Zodat de toekomst ons weer ziet
Nu draag ik mijn verhaal
Achter mijn gezicht
Je ziet de buitenkant
Maar niet mijn echte licht
Maar ik geloof in ons
Cause we’re stronger together
The world’s far too small
Too small for hidden pain
For all the hurt and tears
We can’t just stand by and remain
So let us be the wiser kind
Paint brighter colours in our minds
Hand in hand
We’re stronger together
Stronger together
We’re stronger together
We’re stronger together
English
Do you believe in me?
Because I believe in you.
If you don’t know me,
Do you walk on by?
Or do you stop, and do
Our worlds touch?
Because I believe in us
We have each other, after all.
It’s a strange place at times
The world we face right now
But I believe in us
We’re stronger together.
The world is too small
Too small for silent sorrow,
For misunderstanding and pain
We won’t put up with that.
So let us be the wise ones,
Colouring the world that lies ahead,
Hand in hand,
So the future sees us once again.
Now I carry my story
Behind my face
You see the outside,
But not my true light.
But I believe in us,
‘Cause we’re stronger together.
The world’s far too small
Too small for hidden pain
For all the hurt and tears
We can’t just stand by and remain
So let us be the wiser kind
Paint brighter colours in our minds
Hand in hand
We’re stronger together
Stronger together
We’re stronger together
We’re stronger together
Enjoy all the Junior Eurovision 2026 songs in the ESCplus playlist on Spotify:
The Netherlands at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
The Netherlands was one of the 16 countries that launched the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen in 2003. Since then, it has been the only country to participate in every edition without interruption. Public broadcaster AVROTROS is responsible for organising the country’s participation in the children’s contest.
Across all its appearances, the Netherlands has achieved just one victory, at the 2009 contest in Kyiv (Ukraine), with Ralf and his song “Click Clack”, which scored 121 points. Its best results also include second place in Yerevan in 2011 and fourth place in the final rankings of the 2017, 2019 and 2020 editions.
The Netherlands has hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest twice: in 2007, at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, and in 2012, at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam.
AVROTROS organises one of the longest-running national selections in Junior Eurovision history: Junior Songfestival, whose first edition took place in 2003. Since then, it has been AVROTROS’s selection method for choosing its representative at the children’s contest. It is one of the most successful programmes on its children’s channel, Zapp.
Viewers, a children’s jury and a professional jury choose the winner. Over the years, the competition has undergone changes to its format and to the way the participating singers and songs are selected. It initially featured semi-finals and a grand final, before evolving into the current format of a single show, following several months of auditions and internal selection processes.
In recent editions, the Netherlands has regained its competitive spirit at Junior Eurovision, particularly following Luna’s excellent performance in Yerevan in 2022. After opening the performances at the Karen Demirchyan Complex in the Armenian capital, she achieved the country’s best result since Poland in 2020. Since then, the Netherlands has once again been competing for victory and has returned to the higher positions in the rankings. The Dutch public also reconnected with the contest and its renowned national selection.
At the 2022 contest, held in Yerevan (Armenia), Luna, with “La Festa”, emerged as one of the edition’s favourites, finishing in seventh place with 128 points. Meanwhile, in Nice (France), Sep & Jasmijn, with “Holding On To You”, matched the commendable result of 2022, receiving 122 points and once again finishing in seventh place. At the edition held in Madrid in 2024, the members of Stay Tuned finished in 10th place with 91 points with “Music”.
At the recent musical celebration in Tbilisi in 2025, Meadow competed with “Freeze”, finishing in 10th place with 93 points. The Dutch entry also placed 10th in the national jury voting. However, it dropped to 13th in the viewers’ ranking.