🇮🇸 Iceland & 🇨🇿 Czechia Rule Out Junior Eurovision Debut in 2026

The public broadcasters of Iceland and Czechia have ruled out debuting in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2026.

The Icelandic broadcaster RÚV and the Czech broadcaster ČT have both confirmed to Eurofestivales that they do not intend to participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2026. Of the two broadcasters, only RÚV has seriously examined participation in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

In 2021, RÚV sent observers to the contest in Paris, France, with Iceland airing the competition for the first time since 2003. In 2022, RÚV said that the high costs associated with the participation kept Iceland from debuting at the contest, adding that the country would like to have its own National Selection for Junior Eurovision if it were to debut. Nevertheless, the broadcaster hasn’t aired the contest since 2021 due to “low audiences”.

While Czechia has never aired the competition and is one of twelve countries that have competed in the Eurovision Song Contest, but have not competed in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026

To date the following broadcasters have confirmed their intention to compete in the 2026 contest:

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

🇩🇰 Denmark – DR – Last participated in 2005
🇳🇴 Norway – NRK – Last participated in 2005
🇸🇮 Slovenia – RTVSLO – Last participated in 2015
🇸🇪 Sweden – SVT – Last participated in 2014
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Wales – S4C – Last participated in 2019

The following broadcasters have ruled out debuting in the contest:

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

Source: Eurofestivales / Eurofestivales