🇪🇪 Estonia: ERR Will Not Participate in Junior Eurovision 2026

The Estonian broadcaster ERR has confirmed that it is not planning to compete in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

ERR has confirmed to ESC Spot that it is not planning to return to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2026. This information was provided by Mart Luik, a member of the board of the Estonian broadcaster. He stated that the decision was due to budget constraints:

“Due to budget constraints, we have decided not to participate in this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026. We hope that our budget situation will improve in the coming years and we will be able to return”

Last year Karmel Killandi, Head of Entertainment at ERR, stated that Estonia could participate in Junior Eurovision every other year. Tähtede lava is a biennial children’s singing competition on ETV that was used to select both Estonian Junior Eurovision representatives in the past.

Annabelle Ats represented Estonia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with “Tänavad”. She finished 14th with 55 points, receiving 14 from the jury vote and 41 from the public vote.

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Junior Eurovision 2025 was won by France, but the French broadcaster has declined to host the competition. As a result, conversations are currently ongoing regarding where the 2026 contest will be held. To date, the following broadcasters have confirmed their intention to compete in the 2026 contest:

• 🇬🇪 Georgia: GPB
• 🇮🇪 Ireland: TG4
• 🇳🇱 Netherlands: AVROTROS
• 🇲🇰 North Macedonia: MRT
• 🇵🇱 Poland: TVP
• 🇵🇹 Portugal: RTP
• 🇸🇲 San Marino: SMRTV

The following broadcasters, who have previously participated, have declined returning to the contest:

• 🇧🇪 Belgium: VRT – Last competed in 2012
• 🇩🇰 Denmark: DR – Last participated in 2005
• 🇪🇪 Estonia: ERR – Last participated in 2024
• 🇩🇪 Germany: KiKA – Last participated in 2024
• 🇳🇴 Norway: NRK – Last participated in 2005
• 🇸🇮 Slovenia: RTVSLO – Last participated in 2015
• 🇸🇪 Sweden: SVT – Last participated in 2014
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳Wales: S4C – Last participated in 2019
• 🇦🇺 Australia: SBS – Last participated in 2016

The following broadcasters have ruled out debuting in the contest:

• 🇮🇸 Iceland: RÚV – Last broadcast the contest in 2021
• 🇨🇿 Czechia: ČT – Never broadcast the contest
• 🇫🇮 Finland: Yle – Last broadcast the contest in 2003

Source: ESC Spot