As November draws ever closer, more countries are finalising their plans for Junior Eurovision 2020. Last month UA:PBC the public broadcaster for Ukraine confirmed their intention to compete in Warsaw, Poland. Now the search is on to find Sophia Ivanko’s successor.
UA:PBC to announce details in August
Despite hesitancy from some broadcasters this week, including the announcement of North Macedonia’s withdrawal from this year’s contest. It is full steam ahead for the Ukrainian Eurovision juggernaut. Through their social media platforms the broadcaster again confirmed their readiness to take part in Junior Eurovision 2020. Furthermore they revealed that we can expect a decision for the selection method to be announced in August. Over the past two years Ukraine has opted for virtual National Final’s to select their artists. Given the current global situation, this may prove to be the most logical method again.
Junior Eurovision 2020 – what we know so far
Junior Eurovision 2020 is to be held on November 29 in the Polish capital of Warsaw. The slogan for the show is ‘Move The World’. Following Viki Gabor’s victory on home soil in 2019, this will mark TVP’s second consecutive time hosting.
Note, unlike previous years, the show is due to be held in a TV studio, rather than an arena. The venue itself is yet to be confirmed, and will either be ATM Studio or Transcolor Studio.
To date, the following countries have confirmed participation in the contest:
Ukraine in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Back in 2006, Ukraine made their Junior Eurovision debut, finishing 9th with Nazar Slyusarchuk’s ‘Khlopchyk Rock ‘n’ Roll’. They have participated in every contest since then, and are one of the best-performing countries overall.
They won the 2012 contest with ‘Nebo’ by Anastasiya Petryk, whose sister Viktoria had come second at the 2008 contest. Although the winner of the junior contest doesn’t automatically host the following year, Ukraine hosted the 2009 edition. In fact, they have hosted the contest in Kiev’s Palace of Sports on two occasions now, in 2009 and then in 2013. This made them only the second country at the time to host the Junior contest twice (after the Netherlands). Of course Poland now boasts back to back wins in 2018 and 2019 to make this three.
Last year they chose Sophia Ivanko’s top represent them in Gliwice-Silesia with the entry, ‘The Spirit of Music’. During the contest she finished a respectable 15th place with 59 points.
Who do you want to represent Ukraine this year’? Are you looking forward to Junior Eurovision 2020? Let us know! Stay up to date by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! As well as subscribing to our YouTube channel. Where you can watch our reactions to the news in the upcoming months. You can also follow our Spotify for more music from your favourite acts!
