RTL has confirmed that it will not compete in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Malta this October.
RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg has confirmed to ESC Spot that it will not be among the broadcasters participating in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026. In addition, the broadcaster has yet to determine whether it will air this year’s contest. RTL Zwee has aired the Junior Eurovision Song Contest live for viewers in Luxembourg for the past two years.
Junior Eurovision 2026
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place on October 24 in the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre in Ta’ Qali. This will be the third time that Malta will host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, having done so previously in 2014 and 2016.
To date, the following countries have confirmed their intention to compete in the 2026 contest:
🇦🇱 Albania: Eslin Kurti – “Kërce me mua”
🇦🇲 Armenia
🇨🇾 Cyprus
🇫🇷 France
🇬🇪 Georgia: Davit Lomidze
🇮🇪 Ireland
🇮🇹 Italy
🇲🇹 Malta
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇲🇰 North Macedonia: Ana Stojanoska – “Idnata jas”
🇵🇱 Poland: Wiktor Sas
🇵🇹 Portugal: Salvador Rio
🇺🇦 Ukraine
The following countries, who have previously participated, have declined returning to the contest:
🇦🇺 Australia: Last participated in 2016
🇧🇪 Belgium: Last competed in 2012
🇩🇰 Denmark: Last participated in 2005
🇪🇪 Estonia: Last participated in 2024
🇩🇪 Germany: Last participated in 2024
🇱🇹 Lithuania: Last participated in 2011
🇳🇴 Norway: Last participated in 2005
🇸🇮 Slovenia: Last participated in 2015
🇸🇪 Sweden: Last participated in 2014
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Last participated in 2023
🏴Wales: Last participated in 2019
The following countries have ruled out debuting in the contest:
🇨🇿 Czechia: Never broadcast the contest
🇫🇮 Finland: Last broadcast the contest in 2003
🇮🇸 Iceland: Last broadcast the contest in 2021
🇱🇺 Luxembourg: Broadcast the contest in 2024 and 2025
Source: ESC Spot