Friday 25th August: Belarus and Ukraine decide!

Belarus

Earlier this year there was an open call for entries for the 2017 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Following the deadline for submissions, auditions took place in Belarus in front of a professional jury. The ten finalists in 2017 are: 

1. Ruslana Panchishina (Minsk)
2. Helena Meraai (Minsk)
3. Stephanie Sokolova (Minsk)
4. Anastasia Zhabko (Minsk)
5. The quartet of the National V. Mulyavin Children's Art Center: Maxim Tsuprikov, Angelina Lomako, Stephanie Kruglaya and Stephanie Sokolova (Minsk)
6. Maria Zhilina (Minsk)
7. Duet Arina Pekhtereva and Anastasia Dmitrachkova (Mogilev)
8. Yaroslav Sokolikov (Minsk)
9. Anastasia Timofeevich (Brest)
10. Elina Mataras (Minsk)

The live final in Belarus, broadcast from Minsk, will be streamed live on the website of the national broadcaster, starting at 21:00 CEST. 

Ukraine

The Ukrainian national selection final for the 2017 Junior Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the International Children’s Centre, Artek, based in Pushcha-Vodytsia. In the semi-final, held on 8th August, 10 finalists were selected to proceed to the final:

1. Veronika Kovalenko
2. Pollianna Ryzhak
3. Duo "Hlamurchyk"
4. Sofiia Lozina
5. Sofiia Bondarenko
6. Anastasiia Bahinska
7. Fedia Skliarenko
8. Darina Halytska
9. Sofiia Shkidchenko
10. Nina Boikova

The broadcast will start at 17:30 local time (16:30 CEST) and be broadcast on the website of UΛ:PERSHYI TV (in Ukraine only) and YouTube (worldwide).

The professional jury composed of music and sound producer Vadym Lysytsia, singer Iryna Shvaidak, singer and actor EL Kravchuk, singer and composer Svitlana Tarabarova, singer and musician ROZHDEN will evaluate the contestants’ performances. The show will be hosted by Timur Miroshnychenko and Daria Kolomiiets for the second year in a row. Follow the news on the official Ukrainian social channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Last year Sofia Rol represented the country with the song Planet Craves For Love in Valletta, Malta.