Junior Eurovision Song Festival 5

Final date
 Venue
 Presenter(s)
 Conductor
 Director
 Executive supervisor
 Host broadcaster
 Interval act
 Number of entries
 Debuting countries
 Voting system
 Null points
 Winning song

The Junior Eurovision Song Festival 5 will be the fifth edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Festival. It will take place in the Pais Arena in Jerusalem, Israel. This will be the first time the contest will take place in Jerusalem, Israel. The contest is expected to consist of one final at 13 November 2020.

On the 24th of October 2020, the EBO confirmed that a total of 20 countries will be present in the fifth edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Festival.

Due to the political turmoil in Belarus and restructuring of the national broadcaster of Belarus, Aleksandr Horoslav resigned as executive supervisor. Instead, Evert Broekman from the Netherlands was assigned to this post.

## Location

### **Bidding phase**

On 24 October 2020, the EBO confirmed that two cities were in the race to host the fifth edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Festival. The host city will be announced on the 24th of October 2020. The head of the contest, Jana Dapčević, announced that the host city announcement will take place on 00:00 CET.

The broadcasters had to announce the city, the venue and the capacity for the show. In the end, two cities were submitted to host the contest. The following cities are in the race to host the contest:
  †   Host venue
  ‡   Shortlisted

### **Venue**

The Jerusalem Arena (Hebrew: הארנה ירושלים‎, HaArena Yerushalayim), renamed for the National Lottery Mifal HaPais grant as Pais Arena Jerusalem (Hebrew: פיס ארנה ירושלים‎, HaPais Arena Yerushalayim), is a multi-purpose sports arena that was built in Jerusalem by the city council and National Lottery grant of Mifal HaPais. Opened in September 2014, the arena is located in the Jerusalem Sports Quarter, in the southwestern Malha neighborhood, adjacent to Teddy Stadium. The arena seats 11,000 for basketball games.

The arena interior itself covers 40,000 square metres (430,000 sq ft) and, according to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, the arena is the largest indoor space in Jerusalem. The arena is able to host professional sports, world-class concerts, international conferences, and cultural events. The arena also contains a medical sports center, club rooms, offices, and two additional halls. The entire complex includes 47,370 square metres (509,900 sq ft).

The arena is part of a number of sports facilities in the Jerusalem Sport Quarter, which include an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, and an ice rink. It is also a multi-purpose site, with hotels and residences for athletes with accommodations of 240 rooms, that is able to provide facilities for exhibitions, cultural and business events. There is also an underground parking space for 1,700 cars, and a retail power center.

In 2004, Jerusalem mayor, Ehud Olmert, declared a new basketball arena would be built within a year. In December 2005, the cornerstone was laid. In July 2009, the city hall publicized tenders for building the arena's infrastructure.

The building project was originally scheduled to be finished in late 2014, and originally estimated at a cost 240 million NIS. Of which, 187 million NIS was to be covered by Mifal HaPais, 20 million NIS from a grant from the Israeli National Sports Betting Council, and 33 million NIS from the Jerusalem municipality. However, the final eventual cost of the project ended being over 400 million NIS.

Upon completion, the arena became the new home arena of the Israeli Basketball Premiere League club Hapoel Jerusalem B.C., as they moved into it from the smaller Malha Arena, which was their previous home arena. The arena was officially opened on 11 September 2014.

## Format

On the 24th of October 2020, the EBO confirmed that one final were scheduled to take place in the beginning of November. There is a jury and a televote. They both decide 50% of the score. To prevent the show from being too long, a maximum of twenty participants were allowed to take part this edition.

## Participating countries

Participating countries had until 6 September 2019 to submit their applications for participation in the contest. The EBO announced on 8 October that 20 countries would participate in the contest.

Denmark debuted in the contest while Bulgaria, Ireland and Turkey withdrew.

## Other countries

 Bulgaria - BNT confirmed that Bulgaria would not be present in this years edition, but hoped it would participate in any future Eurovision event. The reason for the withdrawal was not specified.

 Denmark - Danish broadcaster DR confirmed the debut on their Twitter account, revealing that it would also hold a national final.

 Ireland - The Irish broadcaster RTÉ confirmed that it would withdraw from the Junior Eurovision Song Festival this edition after the bad result of last edition. The broadcaster has however no negative views regarding the contest and wished this years contestants much luck in 'this beautiful event that brings nations together'.

 Lebanon - The Lebanese broadcaster, LBCI, announced that it would not send a delegation to Jerusalem, Israel due to the ongoing tensions between the countries. This sparked rumours about a possible withdrawal. Later on, the broadcaster revealed that Lynn Hayek would sing from a tv-studio in Beirut, making it possible for the country to compete.

 Turkey - TRT confirmed that it would withdraw from the contest. Last years participating was experimental, according to the broadcaster, and after the bad result and low viewing figures the broadcaster decided to withdraw. It was also rumoured that Turkey withdrew due to the controversial decision to hold the contest in Jerusalem.