Members of the Euromix editorial team convened to vote for the competing songs in Junior Eurovision 2025, to be held in Tbilisi, Georgia. Who should win Junior Eurovision according to the editorial team?
Junior Eurovision 2025 will take place tomorrow – Saturday, December 13, and will be held in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Georgia reached first place in last year’s Junior Eurovision in Madrid. Junior Eurovision has been held since 2003 and is intended for participants aged 9 to 14. This will be the 23rd edition of the Eurovision spin-off competition.
Editorial Picks: Who Should Win Junior Eurovision?
Ofek Jerassi: First place – Georgia: Anita Abgariani – “Shine Like a Star”
The Georgian song by Anita Abgariani is brilliantly constructed. It is powerful and strongly reminiscent of the song that represented Georgia in 2022, “I Believe,” the best Junior Eurovision song of all time in this view. The track is catchy and, although its rhythm feels far from childish, it still deals with a very childlike theme. Georgia is a powerhouse in Junior Eurovision, and it would be wonderful to see the country achieve the same success in the adult contest as well. There is a real hope of being in Tbilisi again next year.
Adiel Shtainmetz: First place – Poland: Mariana Klos – “Brightest Light”
What a surprisingly high level of songs this year. After last year’s extremely weak lineup, there is now a clear and significant improvement. Many excellent vocalists and several potential winners are taking part, but Mariana Klos, representing Poland with the song “Brightest Light,” won this heart from the very first listen. It is a superbly produced track that never becomes tiring to hear, with excellent vocals that truly take Poland back to its strongest period in Junior Eurovision. Fingers are crossed for a Polish victory, but there would be no objection to a Georgian double. Georgia’s entry this year feels stronger and more deserving than the song with which it won the contest last year.
Neta Geffen: First place – France: Lou Deleuze – “Ce Monde”
After two weaker years, this edition brings a very strong Junior Eurovision, with songs that do not fall short in quality compared to those in the adult contest. The French entry is one of the most refreshing surprises of Junior Eurovision 2025: a sensitive, precise ballad delivered with impressive, effortless vocals. Until now, France has tended to play it safe, choosing the kind of upbeat pop songs typically associated with Junior Eurovision, but this time it has opted for a more intimate and quiet approach. This choice gives the song a distinct character and allows emotion to come through in an authentic and touching way. It is a song that relies on sincerity rather than gimmicks, and that is exactly what enables it to stand out and leave a lasting impression.
Talya Raviv: First place – Georgia: Anita Abgariani – “Shine Like a Star”
Georgia is known as one of the standout countries in the junior contest, and this year it has not disappointed; in fact, this is arguably one of its best entries across all its years of participation. The competition is tough, with many strong songs in the lineup, yet there is something about the Georgian entry that particularly stood out and completely won this reviewer over. The Georgian song is powerful, with a strong melody, and singer Anita showcases very high-level vocal abilities that could easily carry over to the adult Eurovision stage. Unlike last year, this time there is complete confidence that Georgia is the most deserving winner.
Talor Fishler: First place – Albania: Kroni Pula – “Fruta Perime”
This is the first time truly listening in depth to Junior Eurovision songs, and honestly, there are no preconceptions here – the only comparison point is with the “adult” Eurovision itself. For that very reason, the top choice is absolutely clear: Albania, with Kroni Pula and the song “Fruta Perime.” Culturally and musically, this track is a winner because it never apologises for being a children’s song. While many other entries go for mature ballads or try to chase global pop trends, “Fruta Perime” is a pure celebration of youthful joy. It is bouncy, energetic, and does not try to “grow up” by force on stage. Kroni Pula’s radiant, joyful personality bursts through; there is no attempt to be anything other than herself, and her vocal performance is excellent, holding all this cheerful chaos together beautifully. It is music perfectly suited to her age, which makes it irresistibly catchy and an ideal choice for this competition.
Rachel Geron: First place – Spain: Gonzalo Pinillos – “Erase una vez (Once upon a Time”
This year’s contest is packed with emotional ballads that still manage to feel distinct from one another, alongside many outstanding performances that would not look out of place on the adult Eurovision stage. Among all of these, the song that stands out the most here is Spain’s entry. It feels like something taken straight from a children’s movie – full of joy, imagination and hope, instantly transporting the listener back to childhood. The performance is fantastic, the songwriting is excellent, and it is the kind of song that could easily anchor a full film that one would gladly watch again and again.
Tal Dahan: First place – Georgia: Anita Abgariani – “Shine Like a Star”
In Junior Eurovision this year, there are quite a few strong songs that could realistically win the contest, but the absolute favourite here is Georgia’s entry – once again delivering remarkable quality to this competition year after year, which explains its record number of victories. The vocal abilities of Anita Abgariani are simply out of this world, and there is a strong hope that this will be reflected just as impressively on the live stage. The song is highly reminiscent of “I Believe” by Miriam Bigvava, who represented Georgia at Junior Eurovision 2022 and only finished third, despite her powerful voice and stunning stage performance. There is real hope that Anita’s staging will justify another well-earned Georgian victory in the contest.
Aviad Berger: First place – Georgia: Anita Abgariani – “Shine Like a Star”
What a successful year this is. Every track in the personal top six here feels like a worthy winner, which is a real delight after last year. The chosen winner is Georgia. Normally there is not much enthusiasm for seeing a country score a double victory, yet for the second year in a row the most support goes to the host nation’s song. From the very first second of hearing it, it was obvious that this would be the personal winner – even before the track had finished. This is unquestionably a piece that deserves to finish as high as possible. Goosebumps. Georgia in the adult Eurovision, take note: this is how it is done.
Oscar Diefenthal: First place – San Marino: Martina CRV – “Beyond the Stars”
The year 2025 is without a doubt the year of the ballads. Emotional, slow and melancholic songs dominate the Junior Eurovision stage. Yet right in the middle of this calm sea, San Marino arrives and brings a refreshing breeze. San Marino’s song, “Beyond the Stars,” is upbeat, joyful and full of energy, like a breath of fresh air for the soul. It manages to blend light, charming pop with shades of Ed Sheeran, only in Italian, and the result is utterly addictive. San Marino is a real surprise this year and, personally, it is the clear winner of Junior Eurovision 2025.
Maor Heumann: First place – Armenia: Albert – “Brave Heart”
The Armenian entry is simply a beautiful song, with flawless orchestration, drama that arrives at exactly the right moment and, above all, a mature and deeply moving vocal performance. In this view, it is several levels above all the other songs this year and truly deserves to win with ease.
Maayan Eli: First place – Georgia: Anita Abgariani – “Shine Like a Star”
This is a year full of ballads, and yet Georgia’s ballad stands out in particular. The country clearly aims to win for a second year in a row. Something about the clear tone of the voice and the climactic peaks in the chorus makes “Shine Like a Star” especially distinctive. If Anita manages to sing this well live, it should be a highly successful performance that rises above the cluster of ballads most countries have chosen to send this year.
Ido Naaman: First place – Armenia: Albert – “Brave Heart”
The Armenian song is the most distinctive entry this year: a pop ballad that gives goosebumps and conveys its message even without understanding a single word, performed by a singer with a powerful, emotional voice. After the sneak peek from rehearsals showing how the staging will look, there is no doubt that the performance will mesmerise the entire arena. Beyond the fact that Armenia is the personal winner here, the prediction is that it will also take the trophy in the contest itself on Saturday.
Ilay Gaist: First place – Georgia: Anita Abgariani – “Shine Like a Star”
After a very tight battle, decided only after careful consideration, two songs were competing for the crown here: Asja Džogović from Montenegro and Anita Abgariani from Georgia. Only one song could be chosen, so they were assessed across a wide range of criteria.
It was difficult to settle on a single leading factor – what is the most important thing to see this year? Montenegro scored higher in terms of musical style, storytelling and the message it aimed to convey, while Georgia came out ahead vocally, showing greater consistency and a more natural delivery.
In the end, vocals proved decisive. The Georgian song feels more fully developed thanks to the heights Anita Abgariani is able to reach, and there is a genuine curiosity to see how both Anita and Asja will evolve as artists in a few years’ time.
Liron Gani: First place – Georgia: Anita Abgariani – “Shine Like a Star”
Anita is crazy good vocally, and her technique is very convincing even compared to some adult singers. She performs the song very convincingly. The video clip for the song seems not to be too expensive, but it fits the song vibe. I wish Georgia sent songs like this one to the adult Eurovision Song Contest!
| Ofek | Adiel | Neta | Talya | Talor | Rachel | Tal | Aviad | Oscar | Maor | Maayan | Ido | Ilay | Liron | Results | |
| Georgia | 12 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 110 | |||
| France | 4 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 79 | ||
| San Marino | 6 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 75 | |
| Armenia | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 72 | ||
| Ukraine | 7 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 69 | |
| Poland | 5 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 67 | |||
| North Macedonia | 8 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 54 | ||||
| Montenegro | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 47 | |||||||
| Netherlands | 1 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 46 | |||||
| Spain | 5 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 36 | ||||||
| Portugal | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 35 | |||||||
| Albania | 2 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 33 | |||||||
| Azerbaijan | 8 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 24 | ||||||||||
| Ireland | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 20 | ||||||||
| Malta | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 19 | ||||||||
| Italy | 1 | 7 | 8 | 16 | |||||||||||
| Croatia | 10 | 10 | |||||||||||||
| Cyprus | 0 |
- Malta: Eliza Borg – “I Believe”
- Azerbaijan: Yağmur – “Miau Miau“
- Croatia: Marino Vrgoč – “Snovi“
- San Marino: Martina CRV – “Beyond the Stars“
- Armenia: Albert – “Brave Heart“
- Ukraine: Sofiia Nersesian – “Motanka“
- Ireland: Lottie O’Driscoll – “Rúin“
- Netherlands: Meadow – “Freeze“
- Poland: Marinna Kłos – “Brightest light“
- Montenegro: Asja Džogović – “I tužna i srećna priča“
- North Macedonia: Nela Mancheska – “Miracle“
- Italy: Leonardo Giovannangeli – “Rockstar“
- Portugal: Inês Gonçalves – “Para onde vai o amor?“
- Spain: Gonzalo Pinillos – “Érase una vez (Once Upon a Time)“
- Georgia: Anita Abgariani – “Shine Like a Star“
- Cyprus: Rafaella Panteli and Christos Georgiou – “Away“
- France: Lou Deleuze – “Ce monde“
- Albania: Kroni Pula – “Fruta perime“
Watch the official playlist of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2025 here!
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Ofek Jerassi is an Israeli reporter, editor, content creator, and commentator, specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has developed his extensive expertise since childhood, becoming a close follower of the contest. For the past three years, he has served as a writer and editor for EuroMix—Israel’s largest Eurovision website and one of the world’s leading platforms in the field, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Ofek covered Eurovision 2025 on-site in Basel from the press center in the host city, providing EuroMix readers with firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and exclusive reactions from the audience, artists, and experts. His in-depth knowledge and broad familiarity with the Eurovision world are evident in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
In his personal life, Ofek is a medic and avid traveler. He writes out of a genuine love for Eurovision, placing strong emphasis on credibility, professional commentary, and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
