EuroMix editorial team gathered to vote on the songs competing in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Who should win Junior Eurovision according to the editorial team?
The 2026 Junior Eurovision Song Contest will take place on October 24th in Attard, Malta. Organized since 2003 for participants aged 9 to 14, this year’s edition marks the 24th running of the spin-off competition produced by the European Broadcasting Union. Ahead of the live broadcast, the editorial team at EuroMix listened to all competing entries to crown their individual favorites and compile a collective scoreboard.
Adiel Shtainmetz: 1st Place – North Macedonia: Ana Stojanoska – “Idnata Jas”
Quite disappointing. The standard of songs this year feels particularly low, in contrast to last year, which was filled with great tracks that I still listen to today. Despite the weaker lineup, selecting my winner was straightforward. My first place goes to Ana Stojanoska representing North Macedonia with “Idnata Jas” (English: “My Future”). It is not a masterpiece, but it is the only song that grabbed my attention and made me want to replay it. It is a pleasant Balkan track with authentic ethnic elements that are missing from this year’s lineup. Last year it would not have made my Top 3, but in a weaker field, it is strong enough to be my winner. I do have concerns about how it will come across live, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
Netta Gefen: 1st Place – Armenia: Naré – “!BOO”
Following a strong Junior Eurovision lineup last year, the song quality this year feels noticeably lower, with few tracks truly standing out. My main dilemma was between Armenia and Ukraine—two entries that managed to shine in this competition. Ultimately, I selected Armenia. The Armenian entry is upbeat, energetic, and features a catchy melody alongside a charismatic delivery. It has an addictive quality that keeps me returning to it, and I can easily see it elevating the stage performance. In a year where several entries lack distinctiveness, Armenia brings color and energy. Although Ukraine is a worthy contender, Armenia made a stronger impression on me.
Ofek Jerassi: 1st Place – North Macedonia: Ana Stojanoska – “Idnata Jas”
To be honest, this is a weak year at Junior Eurovision, filled with older song creators who have done a disservice to these young talents. For my winner, I chose North Macedonia, which is turning into a Junior Eurovision powerhouse, sending solid and engaging entries year after year. “Idnata Jas” is an upbeat Balkan song that is fun to sing along with and representative; Ana Stojanoska comes across as charming and relatable. While it lacks a massive wow-factor, it works well within the context of this year’s lineup.
Ofir Givoli: 1st Place – Italy: Matteo Trullu – “Che cos’è l’amore?”
You do not need to understand a language to feel emotion, and this song proves it. Matteo Trullu, just 13 years old with an extraordinary vocal ability, accompanies himself on electric guitar with a pop ballad that draws you in, even without knowing Italian. For me, this is unequivocally the best song of the year.
Talor Fishler: 1st Place – Ukraine: Erika Kolesnichenko – “Not a Lullaby”
At Junior Eurovision, I am simply looking for a true children’s song. My overall winner, Ukraine, delivers exactly that. In a field often filled with kids attempting to emulate the adult Eurovision—an approach that does not always translate well on screen—the Ukrainian entry shines due to its authenticity. It feels natural, age-appropriate, and retains a clear Ukrainian identity without attempting to cater strictly to mainstream adult pop. Combined with an engaging rhythm and a catchy chorus, it creates a complete package that brings innocence and vibrant color back to the contest.
Eitan Melamed: 1st Place – Poland: Wiktor Sas – “Gravity”
I must admit this is the first time I have listened in-depth to all the entries in Junior Eurovision. While in previous years I struggled to connect with specific songs, several entries stood out positively to me this year—most notably the Polish song. Wiktor Sas delivers tremendous power in a track that feels strong enough to fit into the main Eurovision Song Contest. National broadcaster TVP has fielded a formidable candidate, and I am eager to see how it comes across on stage.
Yael Bar Sela: 1st Place – Spain: Lucas Paulano – “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)”
In my opinion, Spain should win Junior Eurovision this year because their song is very strong. Spain’s representative, Lucas Paulano, sings a powerful track titled “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)” that is both upbeat and emotional. Besides, the Spanish always invest a lot of energy and insane production on stage. Spain is very successful in this competition, and I am sure that this year Lucas will captivate the audience and the juries, bringing them to first place.
Oscar Diefenthal: 1st Place – Poland: Wiktor Sas – “Gravity”
This year’s Junior Eurovision feels rather weak, especially following the withdrawals of Azerbaijan and Croatia. However, Poland managed to surprise me positively. Their song is upbeat, catches on immediately, and feels like something that could easily play on European radio or in any TV commercial. For me, they are the main favorites this year: it is a contemporary, addictive track that doesn’t feel like just another “contest song,” but simply a good hit that works well outside the stage as well.
Talya Raviv: 1st Place – Armenia: Naré – “!BOO”
I won’t lie, I was disappointed with the Junior Eurovision songs this year, especially after 2025 was so strong. Overall, the songs are nice, but none of them particularly stood out to me to the point where I could say it was my winner on first listen. After a tough deliberation over my winner, I decided to choose Armenia based on the rehearsal photos and the vibe Naré projects, which really reminds me of a mini-Dara. Armenia brought a very impressive stage setup and is completely worthy of winning, although a North Macedonian victory would also be very nice. Just please, not another French win…
Aviad Berger: 1st Place – Ukraine: Erika Kolesnichenko – “Not a Lullaby”
Tom Zilbershtain: 1st Place – Armenia: Naré – “!BOO”
Full Results:
| Country | Adiel | Netta | Ofek | Ofir | Talor | Eitan | Yael | Oscar | Talya | Aviad | Tom | Summary |
| Armenia | 7 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 92 | |
| North Macedonia | 12 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 72 | ||
| Poland | 8 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 68 | |
| Ukraine | 1 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 61 | |
| Cyprus | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 56 | ||
| Spain | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 52 | ||||
| Albania | 5 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 43 | |||
| Malta | 6 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 42 | |||
| San Marino | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 36 | |||
| Italy | 3 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 34 | |||||
| Georgia | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 25 | ||||
| Montenegro | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 22 | ||||||
| France | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 21 | |||||
| Portugal | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||
| Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 5 | |||||||||
| Ireland | 1 | 2 | 3 |
The 16 Competing Entries
- Netherlands: Maria – “Stronger Together”
- Cyprus: Harry Georgiou – “Who I Can Be”
- Portugal: Salvador Rio – “Alma”
- Montenegro: Mija Vujović – “Muzika Nas Spaja”
- San Marino: Violamarie – “Ruota Panoramica”
- France: Alec – “?Comment Tu Vas”
- Poland: Wiktor Sas – “Gravity”
- Armenia: Naré – “!BOO”
- Malta: Beppe – “Blue Bird”
- Italy: Matteo Trullu – “?Che cos’è l’Amore”
- Ukraine: Erika Kolesnichenko – “NOT A LULLABY”
- North Macedonia: Ana Stojanoska – “Idnata Jas”
- Ireland: Caleb Kirwan and Naomi Gribben – “Níos Láidre”
- Albania: Eslin Kurti – “Kërce me mua“
- Georgia: Davit Lomidze – “Sun on the Rooftops”
- Spain: Lucas Paulano – “Cuore Bello (Te Quiero, Te Quiero)”
Junior Eurovision 2026: Lou Deleuze and her song “Ce Monde” (in English: “This World”) gave France its fourth victory in the contest out of the six times it has participated. France won last year but passed on the right to host the competition. Consequently, the contest will take place in Attard, Malta, on October 24th. This is the third time the contest is being held in the country.
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A Eurovision Editor, Writer, and Content Creator with deep expertise in the modern era of the Eurovision Song Contest.
He has been following the contest closely since 2019 and watching every national final since 2020. Following Eurovision 2025, Adiel decided to make Eurovision a major part of his life and joined the Euromix team. Since then, he has been serving as a full-time writer and editor for the site. He will be traveling with the rest of the team to Eurovision 2027 to cover the event on-site with professional and engaging updates.
Adiel’s extensive knowledge and familiarity with Eurovision shine through in every article, ensuring content that is both expert and up to date. An avid follower of song reveals and national selection shows, his love for the contest also sparked a passion for discovering new languages and cultures. In his writing, he puts a strong emphasis on insightful commentary and diverse perspectives.
