Hello and welcome to another episode of ‘Junior Eurovision back in time’. We are almost there! Today we take you back to Malta for the second time. What do you remember from Valletta 2016?
Quick things to know
- Date: 20 November
- Venue: Mediterranean Conference Centre
- Host broadcaster: PBS
- Presenter: Ben Camille & Valerie Vella
- Number of entries: 17
Participating countries
This year the same number of countries participated as last year (17), only three countries made way for three others. We said goodbye to Montenegro, San Marino and Slovenia. At the same time, Cyprus and Israel returned, but also Poland! Poland participated twice in the early years, but withdrew in 2005. Now they are finally back!
Full list of participating countries:
- Ireland: Zena Donnelly – Brice ar Bhicé
- Armenia: Anahit & Mary – Tarber
- Albania: Klesta Qehaja – Besoj
- Russia: The Water of Life Project – Water of Life
- Malta: Christina Magrin – Parachute
- Bulgaria: Lidia Ganeva – Magical Day
- North Macedonia: Martija Stanojkovic – Love Will Lead Our Way
- Poland: Olivia Wieczorek – Nie zapomnij
- Belarus: Alexander Minyonok – Musyka moikh pobed
- Ukraine: Sofia Rol – Planet Craves for Love
- Italy: Fiamma Boccia – Cara Mamma
- Serbia: Dunja Jelicic – U La La La
- Israel: Shir & Tim – Follow My Heart
- Australia: Alexa Curtis – We Are
- The Netherlands: Kisses – Kisses and Dancin
- Cyprus: George Michaelides – Dance Floor
- Georgia: Mariam Mamadashvili – Mzeo
Interval acts
Poli Genova – If Love Was A Crime
Destiny Chukunyere – Not My Soul
Jedward – Hologram
Common song
Top 3
- 3. Italy: Fiamma Boccia – Cara Mamma
- 2. Armenia: Anahit & Mary – Tarber
- 1. Georgia: Mariam Mamadashvili – Mzeo
Mariam Mamadashvili wins Junior Eurovision 2016
The then 10-year-old Mariam from Georgia was allowed to act as the very last of 17 candidates. She melted hearts with a fairytale ballad over the sun. With this Mariam donates the third victory to Georgia. The Caucasus country can therefore call itself the most successful country ever at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. She received no less than eight times the maximum number of points. They came from Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, the Netherlands and Ukraine.
Some fun facts
- For the first time, three types of jury were allowed to judge the songs. We had the children’s jury, an adult jury and a professional jury. The professional jury consisted of Christer Björkman, Jedward and Mads Grimstad.
- No televoting
- Six non-participating countries had broadcast the Junior Eurovision in 2016. Germany, Singapore, Slovenia, United Kingdom and the United States.
- For the first time since 2005 the starting 12 points were dropped.
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