Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016

Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016
Embrace
Date and venue
Final
  • 20 November 2016
VenueMediterranean Conference Centre
Valletta, Malta
Organisation
OrganiserEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Executive supervisorJon Ola Sand
Production
Host broadcasterPublic Broadcasting Services (PBS)
DirectorGordon Bonello
Executive producerCharles Dalli
Presenters
  • Ben Camille
  • Valerie Vella
Participants
Number of entries17
Returning countries
Non-returning countries
Participation map
  •      Competing countries     Countries that participated in the past but not in 2016
Vote
Voting systemEach country's adult & kid juries, as well as three expert jurors, award 12, 10, 8–1 points to their top 10 songs.
Winning song Georgia
"Mzeo"

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016 was the fourteenth edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, held on 20 November 2016 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta, Malta, and presented by Ben Camille and Valerie Vella. It was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). This was the second time that the contest was hosted in Malta, its first being in 2014. Jon Ola Sand was appointed as the Executive Supervisor for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016, following the dismissal of the former supervisor, Vladislav Yakovlev.

Broadcasters from seventeen countries participated in the contest with Montenegro and Slovenia both withdrawing from the competition after two contests, and San Marino withdrawing after three, whilst Cyprus returned after a one-year break, Israel returned after a three-year break and Poland returned to the contest after an eleven-year break. For the first time since the inauguration of the contest the voting procedure did not include a public televote. The overall results were determined by combination of professional and young jurors.

The winner was Georgia with the song "Mzeo" by Mariam Mamadashvili, marking the third time Georgia has won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (following 2008 and 2011 respectively), making Georgia the first country to win the competition three times. Armenia and Italy finished in second and third place, respectively.