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, it is time to discover the biography and career of Matteo Trullu, Italy’s representative at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The young artist secured his ticket to Ta’ Qali after being internally selected by Italian broadcaster RAI, following his victory several months earlier on ‘The Voice Kids Italia’. His selection opened the doors to the contest, where he will represent his country with «Che Cos’è l’Amore?».

How did his journey towards Junior Eurovision begin? What made him fall in love with music? What are his greatest dreams? And what does the song he will perform on the Ta’ Qali stage mean? Through his story, we get to know Matteo Trullu, the young artist taking part in this 24th edition, more closely.

This is Matteo Trullu: a rock spirit on stage

Matteo Trullu is a 14-year-old Italian singer and multi-instrumentalist from Decimomannu, in the province of Cagliari, Sardinia, who in just a few years has gone from performing on children’s stages in his local area to becoming one of the new names in Italian youth music. His journey brings together an unusual combination for someone his age: musical training from childhood, a strong passion for rock, proficiency in several instruments and early experience in competitions.

His big breakthrough came in February 2026, when he was crowned the winner of the fourth edition of ‘The Voice Kids Italia’, broadcast on Rai 1 and hosted by Antonella Clerici. As a member of Nek’s team, Matteo Trullu stood out for performing major rock and pop-rock classics while accompanying himself on electric guitar.

His victory opened the door to a new international chapter: he will represent Italy at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with the song «Che Cos’è l’Amore?».

His early years: a musical calling from a very young age

Matteo Trullu was born in Cagliari, although his story is closely linked to Decimomannu, a town in the metropolitan area of Cagliari where he grew up and which has become an essential part of his artistic identity.

His connection with music began practically from the earliest years of his life. At around four years old, he was already singing songs from ‘Zecchino d’Oro’ at home with his mother, and later began performing with the Piccolo Coro di San Sperate, a local children’s choir. Matteo Trullu later became a finalist in the regional auditions for ‘Zecchino d’Oro’.

His musical interests were not limited to singing. At around the age of three, he received a drum kit and a microphone, which helped spark his musical curiosity. His training subsequently became increasingly structured. A particularly important role in that process was played by the Peter’s Day music school in Assemini, founded and run by maestro Piero Collu. There, he began a period of musical training that he would later continue with other teachers, including maestro Francesco Congia, who played an especially important role in his guitar studies.

From children’s repertoire to rock

If there is one thing that sets Matteo Trullu apart from many young performers who come from children’s competitions, it is his early connection with rock music. While his first experiences were linked to children’s songs and choral singing, he soon became interested in rock from the 1970s and 1980s. Among the bands that influenced him are Europe and Twisted Sister, while he later added artists and groups such as Queen and Jimi Hendrix to his repertoire.

A decisive moment came when he was six years old, when he asked for his first electric guitar. Shortly afterwards, he began studying singing and, over the years, expanded his instrumental skills. He currently plays electric guitar, piano, drums and bass.

His development largely explains the musical personality he would later display on television: he does not simply sing, but often incorporates an instrument into his performances.

One of his earliest musical influences was «Hey Joe» by Jimi Hendrix, a song he eventually added to his repertoire as he moved from children’s music towards pop, rock and hard rock. It was at around the age of 10 that Matteo Trullu decided to focus more intensely on these genres.

Matteo Trullu’s television success has not meant putting his studies aside. At school, he follows a music-focused course at the Istituto Nivola, while at the Cagliari Conservatory he focuses particularly on pop-rock guitar.

This aspect is important in understanding his journey: his television success did not come out of nowhere, but rather after several years of training and participation in competitions.

His journey before ‘The Voice Kids Italia’

Before appearing on ‘The Voice Kids Italia’, Matteo Trullu had already earned several awards at music competitions. Among them were the Festival Canoro di Galtellì (winner in 2023 and 2024), the Stintino Guitar Contest (first place in 2024), the “Note in Radio” Festival in Ascoli Piceno (winner in 2024), Sanremo Junior (finalist in 2024), the Festival Voci D’oro (2024) and Fuoriclasse Talent (winner in 2025). In the latter, he particularly stood out among more than 5,000 participants.

These results gradually helped shape his artistic profile and strengthen his stage presence. The next major step was attending the auditions for ‘The Voice Kids Italia’, which became a turning point in his career.

During this period, he regularly performed as a solo artist at different events in his native Cagliari. These appearances were accompanied by numerous covers posted on his social media, including «Perfect» by Ed Sheeran, «Lose Control» by Teddy Swims and «Wake Me Up When September Ends» by Green Day. He even took on «Mon Amour» by Slimane, France’s entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Matteo Trullu’s breakthrough on ‘The Voice Kids Italia’

The fourth edition of ‘The Voice Kids Italia’ began in January 2026 and was hosted by Antonella Clerici. Loredana Bertè, Arisa, Nek, and Clementino together with Rocco Hunt served as coaches.

Matteo Trullu took part in the blind auditions with one of the most demanding songs in his repertoire: «Bohemian Rhapsody» by Queen, accompanying himself on electric guitar. The choice was particularly significant. He did not choose a children’s song or a simple ballad, but rather one of Queen’s most recognisable and vocally demanding compositions. His performance allowed him to showcase his two main strengths at the same time: his voice and his guitar playing. Following his acclaimed performance, Matteo Trullu chose to join Nek’s team, a decision that would ultimately prove decisive in his television journey.

Throughout the competition, he continued to show his preference for rock repertoire. One of the standout moments was his performance of «Somebody to Love», once again by Queen, demonstrating that his musical identity had not simply been a one-off choice for the auditions.

In the final stages, it was time for «Maniac», the Michael Sembello song associated with the film Flashdance. Once again, the performance combined singing and electric guitar. The song became something of a calling card for Matteo Trullu during the competition. In the grand final, he performed it once again, accompanied by his signature green guitar, and that performance ultimately led him to victory.

The grand final took place on 14 February 2026 and saw Matteo Trullu crowned the winner of the fourth edition of ‘The Voice Kids Italia’. The broadcast attracted 3,382,000 viewers and a 23.4% audience share, with a peak share of 36.1% at the moment the winner was announced.

His victory added his name to the list of ‘The Voice Kids Italia’ winners, alongside previous champions Melissa Agliottone (2023), Simone Grande (2024) and Melissa Memeti (2025).

Matteo Trullu’s victory had a particularly strong impact in Decimomannu, where the artist is regarded as one of the young talents connected to the town. In fact, in April 2026, Decimomannu Town Council approved a “solemn commendation” and an extraordinary financial grant to support his artistic training. The recognition was intended to celebrate the young musician’s success and support the continuation of his studies.

The local dimension of his story is significant: much of his career developed through schools, teachers, festivals and music associations in Sardinia before he reached national television.

A growing professional career and the Junior Eurovision challenge

Matteo Trullu’s victory on ‘The Voice Kids Italia’ considerably expanded his professional opportunities. After the programme, he began appearing as a guest on various television shows and at musical events.

He has also shared the stage with artists from different generations of Italian music, including Silvia Mezzanotte, Omar Pedrini, Rocco Hunt and Samurai Jay, as well as the project Le One. These encounters illustrate the breadth of his profile: although rock remains his main musical reference, his subsequent work has moved across a broader spectrum of Italian popular music.

The next major chapter in his career came with his selection as Italy’s representative at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026. It is his first personal project with a record label, in which his well-defined musical identity plays a particularly prominent role.

Matteo Trullu himself has explained that he listens to different styles, but that his true passion remains rock and that, for him, the guitar holds a fundamental place. That statement defines his profile better than any label: Matteo Trullu presents himself not simply as a singer, but as a young musician whose artistic identity is closely connected to instruments, and especially to the guitar.

With the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026, his career enters a new dimension. Matteo Trullu takes on this new stage after going, in the space of just a few months, from winning a talent show to becoming Italy’s representative before a European audience.

In an interview, the singer himself explained that what interests him most about the experience is not only the result, but also showing that he can perform on large stages and build connections with other young participants. His participation marks the transformation of the child who began singing in Sardinia into a young artist who has managed to reach one of the main European music stages for his generation.

Despite his relatively short career, Matteo Trullu has followed an exceptionally intense path for an artist of his age: musical training from childhood, choral experience, learning several instruments, success in competitions, victory on ‘The Voice Kids Italia’ and now an international debut as Italy’s representative.

This is «Che Cos’è l’Amore?», Matteo Trullu’s entry for Italy at Junior Eurovision 2026

Matteo Trullu will represent Italy at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with the song «Che Cos’è l’Amore?», which translates into English as “What Is Love?”.

The song was composed by Gregorio Castellani, Fabio Zanolini and Luca Faccini. Publishing was handled by The Saifam Group, and it was released by Universal Music Italia. The staging will be creatively directed by Alex Uhlmann, a musician, singer and songwriter with an international career in pop and rock.

Both the entry and its music video premiered on 25 September, and the song also represents Matteo Trullu’s first recording experience of this kind.

The Italian entry is a reflection on the questions, emotions and small discoveries that come with growing up. It does not attempt to offer a fixed definition of love, but instead presents it as an experience that we gradually learn to recognise.

Matteo Trullu’s song revolves around a simple yet profound question: “what is love?” Through the lyrics, the young artist expresses the uncertainty that comes with growing up and discovering new emotions. Love is not defined as something specific, but rather as a collection of experiences: a greeting in a black-and-white film, singing until you lose your voice, or looking at the colours of spring.

The song also highlights support and hope. The person being addressed in the song is portrayed as someone who will be there during difficult moments, when everything seems grey and there appears to be no clear direction. At the same time, Matteo Trullu acknowledges that he still has much to learn and that the answers will come with time.

The song perfectly sums up its message: not having all the answers is also part of growing up. Love is therefore presented as a journey of discovery, filled with doubts, memories, music and hope.

Matteo Trullu’s music video for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 was directed by Hélio Gomes, with Daniele Pezzoli and Emanuele Comincini serving as directors of photography. Mattia Boldrini worked as camera operator, while Simone Pastore served as camera assistant.

The project was filmed at the Antidoto Cocktail Bar in Brescia, which served as the main location for the music video. Mariachiara Buizza, Denise Diviggiano, Antonella Armanasco and Marco Onger were part of the supporting cast, helping to create the setting and accompany Matteo Trullu’s performance.

Lyrics of «Che Cos’è l’Amore?» by Matteo Trullu, Italy’s entry at Junior Eurovision 2026

Enjoy all the songs from Junior Eurovision 2026 in ESCplus’ Spotify playlist:

Italy at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Italy made its debut at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Malta 2014, after several years in which those in charge at RAI had shown considerable interest in the children’s format.

Italy’s arrival at Junior Eurovision marked a turning point and the beginning of a new and highly successful era. RAI opened the door for the major Big 5 countries to turn their attention back to the children’s contest, with the aim of ensuring that it continued to serve as a musical showcase for young artists.

Since its first participation, Italy has maintained a very regular presence, only missing the contest in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Italy has followed the model used by other broadcasters, such as in the Netherlands, by moving Junior Eurovision to children’s thematic channels. For years, the contest was broadcast on children’s channel Rai Gulp, with more limited exposure, which prevented many viewers from becoming familiar with the competition. However, between 2022 and 2023, coinciding with the organisation of the Eurovision Song Contest in the Italian city of Turin, they decided to give the children’s format greater prominence on their main channel, Rai 1, where it received a very positive response from the public. Since 2024, the contest has been part of the regular programming on Rai 2.

With the exception of 2015, Italy has always selected its representatives internally, with an internal committee from children’s channel Rai Gulp responsible for choosing the entry for the children’s contest. Over the years, the public broadcaster has relied on renowned composers and music producers to give its songs the quality traditionally associated with Italian music. In 2015, however, they opted to use the competition ‘Ti Lascio Una Canzone’ as their selection method.

Despite its victory in 2014, Italy has never hosted Junior Eurovision on Italian soil. In 2015, the country declined the opportunity to host the competition due to budgetary issues at the broadcaster.

Italy’s record at Junior Eurovision is quite notable, with six of its entries finishing inside the Top 10. The country also has one victory, achieved at Malta 2014 by Vincenzo Cantiello with «Tu Primo Grande Amore».

At Madrid 2024, Simone Grande had the honour of opening the show’s performances with «Pigiama Party», receiving 98 points, which resulted in a 9th-place finish. The following year, at Tbilisi 2025, Leonardo Giovannangeli represented Italy with the song «Rockstar». He finished in 12th place with 73 points, receiving more support from online viewers (11th place) than from the national juries (14th place).