Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be the 24th edition of the competition. Unlike the regular version of the Eurovision Song Contest, the winning broadcaster of the previous year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest does not automatically receive the right to host the next contest. This year, the competetion will take place in Ta’ Qali, Malta, under the national broadcaster PBS, altough the winner of the last contest was Lou Deleuze, who represented France with the song “Ce Monde“. The contest comes to the country for the first time in history,  The big final will be held at the MFCC venue in Ta’ Qali, when the event is scheduled for October 24th 2026.

The age range for the junior edition is from 9 to 14 years old by the contest date. Additionally, the lead singer is required to perform the main melody entirely live, without any pre-recorded aids or substitutes overriding their voice. The voting system will retain the familiar format of 50% national juries vote and the other 50% will come from online votes.

This year’s edition will be staged under the creative theme The Festa: a vibrant celebration of Malta’s deeply rooted village tradition. The contest will be hosted by Destiny, the winner of Junior Eurovision 2015 and Malta’s represantative at Eurovision 2020 and 2021, Gaia Cauchi, who achieved Malta’s first-ever Junior Eurovision victory in 2013, and Keane Cutajar. the trio hosted the country’s pre-selection for Vienna 2026, Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2026, earlier in the year.

16 countries will participate in the coming contest, when the full running order has already been revealed.