Press releases

MINSK, 2 August (BelTA) – Representatives of 20 countries will perform at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Belarus, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company.

“Ukraine returned to the contest when the deadline was already over. On 2 August the European Broadcasting Union and the Supervisory Board for Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 that includes representatives of the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company added Ukraine to the 2018 lineup,” the press service informed.

As was reported earlier, Kiev had withdrawn from the Junior Eurovision citing financial reasons. However, when the list of the participating countries was officially unveiled on 25 July, the European Broadcasting Union received Ukraine’s application. “We are glad about it for two reasons. First, we are happy to see our southern neighbor back to the contest – Ukraine has strong contestants and vast audiences. Second, as Ukraine joined the contest as the 20^th country, we will have the highest number of the participating countries in the history of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest,” the press service informed.

“The preparation for the contest is in full swing. However, we will have to make some changes. We never had doubts that we will gather all the 18 countries, the highest possible number of participating states, and our general concept proceeded from that. However, the contest has grown bigger adding more work, though we are glad about it,” head of the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company, general producer of the Junior Eurovision 2018 Ivan Eismont said.

Participation in the contest has already been confirmed by Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, France, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, the Netherlands and Wales. Both Kazakhstan and Wales are competing in the contest for the first time.

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 will be held in Minsk on 25 November. The organizer and coordinator of all events of the Junior Eurovision 2018 is the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company that is Belarus’ only member of the European Broadcasting Union.