Estonia has been represented at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest since the 2023 contest. The Estonian participating broadcaster in the contest is Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR). It selected Arhanna Sandra Arbma as the first Estonian representative for Junior Eurovision. Estonia finished in second-last place, scoring 49 points. Following a fourteenth place finish in 2024 with "Tänavad" by Annabelle, ERR withdrew from the 2025 contest due to budget cuts.
| Estonia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest | |
|---|---|
| Junior Eurovision Song Contest | |
| |
| Participating broadcaster | Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) |
| Participation summary | |
| Appearances | 2 |
| First appearance | 2023 |
| Last appearance | 2024 |
| Highest placement | 14th: 2024 |
Participation history
| |
| External links | |
| ERR Eurovision website | |
 For the most recent participation seeEstonia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 | |
History
editBefore participation
editERR broadcast the first two editions of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 and 2004, but did not participate due to financial restraints.[1][2] Broadcasters from the Baltic countries, including Estonia, expressed interest in taking part in the 2016 contest.[3] This however did not materialise.
Tähtede lava
editTähtede lava (transl. "Star Stage") is an Estonian singing competition for young soloists. The competition first aired in 2019.[4] The competition was used to select the representative of Estonia in 2024, and the winner of the second edition of the show was also selected to represent Estonia in 2023.
The first edition took place between March and May 2019, the winner overall was Glorija Ruadjärv – whom was also the winner of the "Middle–aged group." Meanwhile Sireli Salum won the "Older–aged group," and Arhanna Sandra Arbma won the "Younger–aged group."[5] The second edition took place between January and February 2022, this time the "Age–groups" weren't used. Arhanna Sandra Arbma, returned to the competition and won the event, meanwhile Marten Thomas Tõniste won the audience category.[6] The third edition aired from April and May 2024 and also included the return of "Age–groups." Oliver Rei won the "Younger–aged group," Steven Luik won the "Middle–aged group," and Annabelle Ats won the "Older–aged group." Annabelle Ats was also selected to represent Estonia at Junior Eurovision 2024.[7][8]
Partcipation
editOn 29 August 2023, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) published the list of participating countries in the 2023 contest, which included Estonia.[9] On the same day, ERR announced that 11-year-old Arhanna Sandra Arbma would be Estonia's entrant.[10] Her song, "Hoiame kokku" ("Let’s Stick Together"), written by Arhanna herself along with Karl-Ander Reismann, Leelo Tungal and Rael Laikre, was released on 16 October along with a music video.[11] At the contest Arhanna finished 15th with 49 points.
On 24 November 2023, ahead of the country's debut, ERR said that it was considering the possibility of making the singing competition Tähtede lava its national final for Junior Eurovision.[12] This was confirmed the following 4 May, ahead of the final of Tähtede lava.[13] One day later, on 5 May 2024, Estonia selected Annabelle Ats as its entrant for the 2024 contest.[14] At the 2024 contest, held on 16 November 2024 in Spain, she performed song "Tänavad". Receiving 55 points, she finished in 14th place.
On 11 December 2024, Estonian broadcaster ERR confirmed its withdrawal from the 2025 contest due to budget cuts.[15]
Participation overview
editCommentators and spokespersons
editThe Estonian broadcaster, ERR, sent their own commentator to each contest in order to provide commentary in Estonian and Russian. Spokespersons were also chosen by the national broadcaster in order to announce the awarding points from Estonia. The table below lists the details of each commentator and spokesperson since the country's debut in 2023.
| Year | Channel(s) | Commentator | Spokesperson | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | ETV | Unknown | Did not participate | |
| 2004 | ||||
| 2005–2022 | No broadcast | N/A | ||
| 2023 | ETV2, ETV+ | Marko Reikop (ETV2) Aleksandr Hobotov and Julia Kalenda (ETV+) |
Iris Ashton | |
| 2024 | Arhanna | |||
| 2025 | No broadcast | Did not participate | N/A | |
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Šein, Liivi (23 November 2004). "Laste Eurovisiooni lauluvõistluse võit läks Hispaaniasse" [Junior Eurovision Song Contest win goes to Spain]. Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 12 November 2022.
- ↑ Ibrayeva, Laura (30 August 2023). "Estonia: Details Revealed for Arhanna Sandra Arbma's Junior Eurovision Entry". Eurovoix.
- ↑ Granger, Anthony (19 November 2015). "JESC'15: The Baltic States Are Interested In Participating In Junior Eurovision". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ↑ "„Laulukarussellist" välja kasvanud „Tähtede lava" viib laste lauluvõistluse uuele tasemele" ["Star Stage", which grew out of "Song Carousel", takes children's singing competition to a new level]. www.ohtuleht.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 25 June 2026.
- ↑ ERR (17 May 2019). "Fotod: "Tähtede lava" võitis Gloria Raudjärv" [Photos: Gloria Raudj won the competition "Tähted lava"]. ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 25 June 2026.
- ↑ ERR (7 February 2022). "Galerii: "Tähtede lava" võitis Arhanna Sandra Arbma" [Gallery: Arhanna Sandra Arbma wins "Tähtede lava"]. ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 25 June 2026.
- ↑ ERR (29 April 2024). "Galerii: "Tähtede lava" finaalis võidutsesid Oliver Rei ja Steven Luik". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 25 June 2026.
- ↑ ERR (6 May 2024). "Galerii: järgmisel noorte Eurovisioonil esindab Eestit Annabelle Ats". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 25 June 2026.
- ↑ "16 countries to send 'Heroes' to compete at 21st Junior Eurovision Song Contest" (Press release). European Broadcasting Union. 29 August 2023.
- ↑ Tiits, Maiken (29 August 2023). "Eesti osaleb esimest korda noorte Eurovisiooni lauluvõistlusel" [Estonia takes part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the first time]. ERR (in Estonian).
- ↑ Farren, Neil (16 October 2023). "Estonia: Arhanna Releases "Hoiame Kokku"". Eurovoix.
- ↑ Grace, Emily (24 November 2023). "Estonia: Intends To Participate In Junior Eurovision 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ↑ Mancheño, José Miguel (5 May 2024). "Estonia confirma su participación en Eurovisión Junior 2024 y elegirá a su representante este domingo" [Estonia confirms its participation in Junior Eurovision 2024 and will select its representative next Sunday]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ↑ Granger, Anthony (5 May 2024). "Estonia: Annabelle Ats to Junior Eurovision 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ↑ Kook, Urmet (11 December 2024). "Nõukogu kinnitas ERR-i 2025. aasta eelarve koos kärbetega" [Council approves ERR's 2025 budget with cuts]. Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ↑ ERR (16 October 2023). "Noorte Eurovisioonil esindab Eestit võistluslugu "Hoiame kokku"". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ↑ "Noorte Eurovisioon 2023 | ETV2". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ↑ "Детское Евровидение 2023 | ETV+". ERR (in Russian). Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ↑ Rebane, Karmen (4 October 2024). "Eestit esindab noorte Eurovisioonil 13-aastane Annabelle Ats looga "Tänavad"" [Estonia will be represented at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest by 13-year-old Annabelle Ats with the song "Tänavad"]. Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ↑ Farren, Neil (2 November 2024). "Today: 🇪🇪 Estonia: Junior Eurovision 2024 Commentators Revealed". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ↑ ERR. "Noorte Eurovisioon 2024". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ↑ "Детское Евровидение – 2024". ERR (in Russian). Retrieved 2 November 2024.