What Is 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Overview

The 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest was the 16th edition of the event, organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and hosted in Minsk, Belarus. It followed Poland’s victory in 2017, making it the first time since 2003 that the contest returned to the same host country the following year due to a prior win.

With a record 16 participating countries, the 2018 contest marked a resurgence in interest and participation. The event was held at the Minsk-Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena with a capacity of over 15,000, and featured a vibrant stage design inspired by digital connectivity and youth expression.

• Host city: Minsk, Belarus, hosted the event at the Minsk-Arena on November 25, 2018, after winning the right due to Poland’s 2017 victory.
• Number of participants: A total of 16 countries took part, the highest number since the 2005 edition, reflecting renewed global interest in the competition.
• Winner: Poland won for the second consecutive year with Roksana Węgiel and her song 'Anyone I Want to Be', scoring 215 points.
• Winning margin: Poland secured victory with a 35-point lead over second-place Georgia, which earned 180 points with Tamar Edilashvili’s 'Give Me Your Love'.
• Format: Each country awarded two sets of points—1–8, 10, and 12—from a national jury and online voting, combining to determine the final rankings.

How It Works

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest follows a structured format blending live performance, national juries, and public engagement. Each participating country submits an original song performed by a child artist aged 9 to 14, ensuring age-appropriate content and competitive fairness.

• Eligibility: Artists must be between 9 and 14 years old on the day of the final; no professional recording contracts are allowed to maintain amateur status.
• Voting system: Each country’s score combines 50% national jury and 50% online voting, with votes open for 15 minutes during the live show.
• Language rules: Songs may be performed in any language, though most entries in 2018 were in English or the national language.
• Duration: Each performance is limited to maximum 3 minutes, with strict timing enforced to maintain broadcast schedules.
• Host selection: The winning country of the previous year typically hosts, as seen when Belarus hosted in 2018 following Poland’s 2017 win.
• Delegation size: Each country sends a delegation of up to 6 people, including the performer, a backup singer, and adult chaperones.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the top five countries in the 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest based on final scores and voting breakdowns.

The table highlights how Poland dominated both jury and public voting, the only country to top both categories. Georgia and Australia followed closely, showing strong regional support and effective staging. France’s emotional ballad resonated particularly with adult jurors, while Armenia’s upbeat performance drew younger voters. The split voting system ensured a balanced outcome reflecting both professional and public opinion.

Why It Matters

The 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest was a milestone in the event’s history, demonstrating growing international appeal and setting precedents in competitive continuity and audience engagement. Its success helped solidify the contest as a platform for youth expression and cultural exchange in Europe and beyond.

• Back-to-back win: Poland became the first country to win two consecutive titles, highlighting the effectiveness of its national selection process.
• Increased participation: The return of countries like Albania and Wales brought the total to 16, boosting diversity and regional representation.
• Digital engagement: Over 250,000 online votes were cast during the final, showing rising digital interaction with the format.
• Global reach: The broadcast reached over 40 countries, including non-participating nations like the United States via online streaming.
• Youth empowerment: The contest provided a safe, creative platform for children to showcase talent on an international stage.
• Legacy impact: Several 2018 participants, including Roksana Węgiel, went on to pursue professional music careers, validating the contest’s role as a talent incubator.

The 2018 edition not only delivered entertainment but also reinforced Junior Eurovision’s mission to inspire young performers and foster cross-cultural understanding through music.