The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) are pleased to confirm that Georgia will host the 15th Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC) in November 2017.

10 year old Mariam Mamadashvili triumphed at last year's JESC in Valetta, with her pitch perfect performance of Mzeo topping the table with 239 points. The EBU and GPB are excited to reveal that as last year’s winners GPB were given first option to host the 2017 competition, and they have agreed.

Georgia has won the Contest, which began in 2003, a record three times but this is the first time that the event will be held in the country.

Jon Ola Sand, the EBU’s Head of Live Events said “The EBU are delighted to announce that GPB will be the host broadcaster of the 2017 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. As Georgia has won the JESC the most times we are pleased that we can finally bring Europe’s favourite youth show to a new country that has shown such dedication to the Contest. Last year’s competition showed that JESC is an invaluable platform for public service broadcasters to support their young talent, and we have full confidence that GPB will host another great show this November.”

The competition is traditionally held every November - the date for this year’s event will be announced later.