UA:PBC, the Ukrainian national broadcaster, has extended the submission deadline for Junior Eurovision song submissions to August 26.
All performers between the ages of 9 and 14, whether as solo artists or in groups, can fill out the application form on junioreurovision.ua. Applicants must also send in two videos. The first video must show the participant performing their entry backed by an instrumental track with no other vocals. The entry cannot be longer than three minutes and must not have been commercially released or publicly performed before May 1 2018. The second video must show the participant talking about themselves, their family, their region and their hobbies. In the video, they must answer the following two questions:
- “What does winning mean to you?”
- “What does Ukraine mean to you?”
From all the initial applicants, 10 finalists will be selected by a professional jury. Online voting will then determine who will represent Ukraine in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
Ukraine initially withdrew from the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018, citing financial difficulties within the broadcaster. However, they were added to the list of participating countries on August 2, becoming the 20th participating country announced.
The other 19 participating countries are as follows:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- France
- FYR Macedonia
- Georgia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
- Malta
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Serbia
- The Netherlands
- Wales
Wales and Kazakhstan will make their debut in 2018. Azerbaijan and Israel return to the contest after a short break of a few years, with France also returning after their debut and only entry in 2004.
Belarus’ public broadcaster BTRC (Belarusian Television and Radio Company) will host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018, which will take place at the Minsk Arena on Sunday 25 November, the second time the contest has been held at the 15,000 seat stadium in the Belarusian capital.
Source: UA:PBC
Ukraine in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Ukraine debuted in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 and has competed in the contest ever since. To date Ukraine has only won the competition once. In 2012 Anastasiya Petryk won in Amsterdam with the song “Nebo”, she scored 138 points including eight sets of 12 points. Ukraine has hosted the contest twice, the first time being in 2009 and the second being in 2013 following their victory in Amsterdam.
