Destiny and Poli Genova join Junior Eurovision 2016!

Destiny Chukunyere won the 2015 Junior Eurovision Song Contest and is the reason why the 14th edition of the competition will take place in Valletta, Malta this year. During the interval Destiny will not only reprise her winning track Not My Soul, but will also perform her brand new single La Di Da at the event.

Poli Genova, who represented Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and 2016, will add to the star-studded line-up, performing in the interval act. Poli is no stranger to Junior Eurovision and presented the show last year when it was held in Sofia, Bulgaria. Earlier this year she scored Bulgaria's best ever placing in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song If Love Was A Crime.

Expert panel in 2016 

This year, each singer will be judged by one professional music industry jury and one youth jury made up of children from every participating country. These will combine 50/50 to form that country’s vote. Then, in a format change brand new for 2016, the event will also see votes from three expert judges making up the rest of the overall score (with each judge counting for the equivalent of one additional country).

The first ever expert judges panel will comprise of Mads Grimstad of Universal Music, and expert show producer, Christer Bjorkman, the man behind the Swedish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, Melodifestivalen. Christer was the show producer for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm and represented Sweden in the competition in 1992. One additional spot for on the panel is yet to be announced. Each expert judge or jury member score every act, either giving the prized 12 points, 10 points, or 8-1. Their votes will be added together, creating the participant's final score.

Hosting this year’s contest will be Ben Camille, who also presented the Maltese national final for Eurovision 2016, and Valerie Vella who hosted that competition in 2002 and presented Malta’s votes in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005. Taryn Mamo Cefai will be the host of the Opening Ceremony.

This year the official Junior Eurovision social channels will also be hosting unique posts that allow the public to have their say on who they thought was their favourite performer.