BTRC, the Belarusian national broadcaster and the city of Minsk are gearing up for the forthcoming 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The Belarusian capital will be welcoming the contest for the second time in JESC history, having hosted the competition back in 2010.

Just as the the dust settles after this year’s magnificent edition of Junior Eurovision which was held in Tbilisi yesterday, preparations are in full swing for next year’s event in Minsk.

Belarus is happy and honoured to host the 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Minsk next year.

Ms. Olga Salamaha (BTRC Channel 1 Deputy Director) says:

In this case, the application was filed by Belteleradiocompany, there were other applicants, but the supervisory board unanimously approved our candidacy.

Ms. Olga Shlyager  (Belarus Eurovision Project Head/BTRC Deputy General Producer) says: 

We have a good base for very good LED equipment, for sound equipment, that is, we do not have to carry all this from somewhere from afar, because all this is in the country, it simplifies and makes definitely cheaper the very process of preparing for the show.

The exact location of the Junior Eurovision final is not yet known. Among the possible options is Minsk-Arena. In 2010, the facility proved itself as the most optimal in terms of the number of seats. Hotels and hotel complexes in Minsk are already actively involved in the process.

Despite the start of the year, Belteleradiocompany will begin active preparation for the contest upon return from Tbilisi.

Belarus has taken part in every Junior Eurovision Song Contest since the competition was created in 2003. The country has a very successful record, winning in both 2005 with Ksenia Sitnik and 2007 with Alexey Zhigalkovich.

Mr Jon Ola Sand (EBU’s Head of Live Events) says:

The rule change to allow a host for next year’s competition to be chosen earlier not only gives the host broadcaster longer to prepare what is a huge production but also protects the future of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

We are therefore delighted to announce, before we gather in Tbilisi for the 2017 competition, that BTRC will be the host broadcaster of the 2018 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. BTRC’s application to host was extremely strong, and we have full confidence that they will put the same enthusiasm into the preparations of next year’s event.