🇫🇷 France to host the 2021 Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Moments ago, EBU has revealed that France, the winner of the 2020 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, will be hosting the 2021 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The news comes after the broadcaster revealed interest in hosting the contest after winning.

No further details have been revealed about France’s hosting of the contest. The host city and venue for the 2021 contest will be revealed at a later date.

Allez La France! 🥳

We’re très excited to announce that France 🇫🇷 | @Francetele will host Junior Eurovision 2021!

👉 https://t.co/Nzv3KUAJxz pic.twitter.com/1uWPT1w0sh

— Junior Eurovision (@EurovisionJr) December 9, 2020

A new initiative for France

Delphine Ernotte Cunci, president of France Télévisions expressed their excitement in hosting the next edition of the competition.

I am very happy that France Télévisions is organizing the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in France in 2021. Valentina represented our country brilliantly by winning the 2020 edition. Consequently, it was obvious to host the next event in France.

This is a strong new initiative for us, which underscores the importance France Télévisions attaches to Eurovision, the EBU, and Europe. Let us all hope that Junior Eurovision 2021 can take place under normal conditions in France and it will be a time of great celebrations for many Europeans

France’s Head of Delegation Alexandra Redde-Amiel also expressed her excitement with France hosting next year’s competition:

29 November 2020 will always be engraved in our memories thanks to Valentina’s magnificent victory at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

This incredible adventure isn’t over! It truly is an achievement and an honour for the entire France Télévisions entertainment team to organize one of the biggest shows in the world in France. We can’t wait to welcome the EBU teams, all the participants and the European delegations next year and offer them a special show

Martin Österdahl, the current Executive Supervisor to the EBU also mentioned a few words and are delighted France will be hosting the 19th edition of the competition:

We know how excited the whole team in France are to be staging the 19th edition of the Contest and we’re looking forward to working with them on growing the competition and producing a great show in 2021.

France in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Debuting at Junior Eurovision in 2004, Thomas Pontier represented France with their first entry, “Si on voulait bien”. He finished in 6th place with 78 points. In 2005, France Télévisions withdrew from the contest, stating that there was “no motivation to compete”.

After speculation in the mid-10s, France returned to Junior Eurovision in 2018. Angélina represented the country with her song, “Jamais sans toi”, which finished in 2nd place with 203 points. France continues their participation in 2019, with Carla and ‘Bim Bam Toi’ which placed 5th in Gliwice-Silesia.

In 2020, France selected Valentina to represent them at the 2020 Junior Eurovision Song Contest with the song ‘J’Imagine’, where the country achieved their first win with 200 points from the Jury and online vote.

Are you excited that France will be hosting the 2021 Junior Eurovision Song Contest? Where would you like them to host it?  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! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our reactions to the news over the coming months.