As the Junior Eurovision Song Contest approaches, more countries are confirming their participation. However, Latvia will not be joining them at the contest in November, LTV has confirmed. They join Croatia, Cyprus, Israel, Montenegro and Slovenia in confirming that they will not be participating.
Krista Luize from the press department of Latvian Television (LTV) has confirmed to Eurofestivales that Latvia will not be participating at Junior Eurovision 2019. In a statement, she said the following:
Latvia will not participate in the 2019 Junior Euriovision. Our priorities this year are participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, and the newest format of Eurovision – Eurovision Choir of the Year. The preparation of our entries for both competitions is a long and complicated process both for the artists and the production teams, therefore, we have decided to participate in these two.
Krista Luize from LTV
Junior Eurovision 2019
This year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the Gliwice Arena, Poland, on the 24th November 2019. It marks the first time Poland will host a music-based Eurovision event! Last year, Roksana Węgiel brought Poland its first Eurovision-adjacent win with “Anyone I Want To Be”.
So far, the following countries have confirmed their intention to participate:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Australia
- France
- Georgia
- Ireland
- Kazakhstan*
- Malta
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Serbia
- Ukraine
- Wales
* Although Kazakhstan have stated their intention to participate in the contest, they must be invited by the host broadcaster in order to participate.
Latvia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Latvia was one of the 16 countries to debut at the inaugural Junior Eurovision Song Contest back in 2003, hosted in Copenhagen. Their debut entry was Dzintars Čīča’s “Tu esi vasarā”, which placed 9th – their best result to date.
So far, they have only participated in five editions of the contest, finishing last on two occasions (in 2004 and 2011). They originally withdrew in 2005, following three consecutive participations. The country made a brief return to the contest in 2010, before withdrawing after the 2011 contest. LTV cited financial reasons for their second withdrawal and have not returned since.
In November 2015, it was announced that the Baltic countries, including Latvia, were interested in taking part in the 2016 contest. However, in May 2016, LTV confirmed it would not return to the contest in 2016.
Are you disappointed that Latvia will not be returning this year? Would you like to see them return in the future? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates!
