Armenia to give 20th Junior Eurovision a spin, 16 countries arrive in Yerevan this year

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest, celebrating its 20th anniversary in Yerevan, has 16 countries signed up to compete in the contest, which will take place in Armenia on 11 December 2022 from 16:00 in the afternoon. The 16 participating countries are:

🇦🇱 Albania (RTSH), 🇦🇲 Armenia (AMPTV), 🇫🇷 France (France TV), 🇬🇪 Georgia (GPB), 🇮🇪 Ireland (TG4), 🇮🇹 Italy (Rai), 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (Khabar Agency), 🇲🇹 Malta (PBS), 🇳🇱 Netherlands (AVROTROS), 🇲🇰 North Macedonia (MKRTV), 🇵🇱 Poland (TVP), 🇵🇹 Portugal (RTP), 🇷🇸 Serbia (RTS), 🇪🇸 Spain (TVE), 🇬🇧 United Kingdom (BBC) and 🇺🇦 Ukraine (UA:PBC) are launching young contestants for the crystal microphone for the little ones.

Alongside the participants’ list, AMPTV revealed that the theme for the 20th Junior Eurovision will be: Spin The Magic.

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, is excited about the show’s return:

“We’re delighted to be welcoming talented young artists from 16 countries this year to Yerevan for the 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

It’s exciting to be returning to the Armenian capital for the first time in over a decade to “Spin The Magic” on this special anniversary – and welcoming back the United Kingdom to the competition, our host country for Eurovision 2023.

There’s so much energy, passion and creativity from our colleagues at AMPTV and we can’t wait to see a spectacular show in December.”

Spin the Magic – the theme and slogan of the 2022 competition

This year, Junior Eurovision returns for its 20th spin around the sun – in a never-ending whirl bringing joy and fun to young people.

To symbolise this, organisers have chosen an internationally recognised toy to feature across the branding of the Contest: the spinning top.

Hovhannes Movsisyan, CEO of Public TV of Armenia, explained:

“It was very important for us to choose a symbol that would reflect the magic of the competition, and the 20th spin of Junior Eurovision that would unite all the children taking part.

I am convinced that everyone has fond memories about this toy. While developing the idea, we realised that a lot of countries have spinning tops, each of them unique. This perfectly reflects the values of Junior Eurovision – everyone is united around the idea of magic, music and joy, and at the same time presenting a different song and performance.”

While known the world over, this particular variety of spinning top is unique in Armenian culture; featuring traditional patterns that appear on historical architecture, carpets, and costumes across the Host City of Yerevan.

These old-school wooden toys have been given a neon twist – quite literally – to reflect a modern Armenia.

The designs will feature across the show, with a spinning top produced in the colours of the flags of the 16 participating countries.

The 20th Junior Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, in Yerevan, Armenia, on Sunday 11 December at 16:00 CET.

Illustration: OurVision International
Sources: Eurovision.tv, JuniorEurovision.tv / OurVision International