Georgia is gearing up to host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2025, marking the second time the country will welcome Europe’s most prestigious children’s music competition. The final is scheduled for December 13 and will bring together young performers from eighteen participating nations, including Georgia’s own representative, Anita Abgarian, who won the national selection show Ranina.
At a joint press conference, Georgia’s Minister of Culture and the Director General of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) outlined the country’s preparations for the major event. Tinatin Berdzenishvili, head of GPB, said work is progressing intensively as Georgia prepares to host what she described as Europe’s largest festival of its kind.
Berdzenishvili highlighted Georgia’s exceptional record in the contest, noting that the country has won Junior Eurovision four times — more than any other nation. Hosting for the second time, she said, carries both pride and responsibility, especially since the contest serves as a celebration for Georgian children.
“This isn’t merely a single concert; it’s a week-long festival beginning on December 1,” she explained. “We will have two concerts, both duplicated, and each will host up to 3,000 children who will watch, listen, and vote alongside the jury. The second show will be broadcast live by leading broadcasters across all 18 participating countries. I believe our children will be the happiest in the pre-New Year period.”
Berdzenishvili also underscored the international significance of the event, noting that the full team from the European Broadcasting Union has already arrived in Georgia and is working with local organizers.
Culture Minister Tinatin Rukhadze emphasized the symbolic importance of Georgia hosting Junior Eurovision again, calling it an achievement unmatched by any other country. She praised the talent of Georgian children, which she said continues to gain global recognition, and described the event as an opportunity for the world to see Georgia’s culture, creativity, and youthful talent.
Rukhadze added that the contest will bring substantial benefits, from heightened international visibility to economic gains. “During this period, the entire world will be talking about us. Georgia will appear prominently in almost every European media outlet. It’s one of Europe’s major events, and for us it means increased tourism and ongoing, sustainable economic growth. Talent and art are also part of our European integration — we are inseparable from Europe through culture,” she noted.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest, organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union for performers aged 9 to 14, has long been an important cultural platform for young artists. Georgia, a four-time champion, has established itself as one of the competition’s strongest participants. The last time the country hosted the event was in 2017.
