On Saturday, October 24, 2026, Malta hosted the grand final of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The musical show took place at the MFCC conference center in the village of Ta' Qali, bringing together representatives from 16 countries. Nare, representing Armenia with the song "BOO!", became the winner of the prestigious international competition, scoring a total of 202 points.
Final Results and Prize Placements
This year's contest was remembered by viewers for bright performances and a tense competition in the scoreboard. The winner was determined by combining the scores of national juries and viewer voting, with each component holding an equal weight of 50 percent. Lucas Paulano of Spain took second place in the overall standings with 184 points, while Alec from France secured third place with 165 points.
For Armenia, this victory on the junior stage is the third in the country's history of participating in the musical contest. Notably, last year's competition was won by French representative Lou Deleuze with the song "Ce monde".
Ukraine's Performance and Erika Kolesnychenko's Results
Ukraine was represented on the international stage by 11-year-old Erika Kolesnychenko from Bila Tserkva. The young vocalist performed the song "NE kolybelna" (NOT a lullaby), with lyrics and music written by famous singer Svitlana Tarabarova. The composition conveys the idea of belief in one's own strength, courage, and determination to achieve dreams. Erika earned the right to represent the country after winning the national selection in September 2026.
According to the national jury voting results, Ukraine received 38 points, with the Ukrainian jury awarding its highest score of 12 points to Poland's representative Wiktor Sas for the song "Gravity". Viewer online voting brought Erika another 68 points. The combined score placed the Ukrainian singer in ninth place in the final standings.
Significance of the Contest and Future Prospects
Junior Eurovision continues to be an important platform for the creative development of young talents across Europe and beyond. Participating in such large-scale projects allows children to make themselves known on the international stage, gain invaluable stage experience, and represent their country's culture. For Ukraine, Erika Kolesnychenko's performance became a bright stage in her musical career, confirming the high potential of the domestic school of young performers.
