Junior Eurovision 2026: Ireland's Act, Song and TG4 Coverage
Updated (4 Nov): TG4's own schedule for Saturday 24 October lists "Junior Eurovision 2026" at 8pm. The contest has aired. Armenia's Naré won with "BOO!" on 202 points, per Eurovoix's results list and UNN's report of the result. The same Eurovoix list has Ireland's Caleb Kirwan and Naomi Gribben on 64 points, level with Portugal's Salvador Rio and listed 14th of the 16 entries. Whether the show is on the TG4 Player afterwards is still not confirmed.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 took place on Saturday 24 October, and TG4 was Ireland's broadcaster for it, with Caleb Kirwan and Naomi Gribben singing "NĂos LĂĄidre" for Ireland in Malta. The UK isn't one of the 16 countries taking part, so there's no British channel to compare it with, and TG4 is free to air in Ireland. TG4's own on-air time for the night was not confirmed when we checked on Friday 9 October.
- Date: Saturday 24 October 2026, starting at 21:00 CEST according to the organisers, which is 8pm Irish time.
- For Ireland: Caleb Kirwan and Naomi Gribben with "NĂos LĂĄidre", performing 13th of 16.
- Channel: TG4 is the Irish broadcaster named by the organisers.
- Voting: free online at JESC.TV, in two windows.
When is Junior Eurovision 2026?
According to the European Broadcasting Union, which runs the contest, the live show was set for Saturday 24 October 2026 at 21:00 CEST. That is 8pm Irish time. It comes from the MFCC venue in Ta' Qali, Malta, with the Maltese broadcaster PBS as host and Gaia Cauchi, Destiny and Keane Cutajar presenting. It's the 24th contest.
| Event | Date | Irish time | Channel | Free | New or repeat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Eurovision 2026 live show | Saturday 24 October | 8pm, per the organisers (21:00 CEST), TG4's schedule and the Irish News listing | TG4 | Yes | Aired |
| Junior Eurovision Ăire final | Sunday 4 October | Aired | TG4 | Yes | Aired |
One caution on the 8pm figure: it is the organisers' start time for the show itself. A channel can open its coverage earlier, and TG4 hadn't put a time on its own listing that we could find on Friday 9 October; its schedule for the night now lists the show at 8pm.
Who is representing Ireland at Junior Eurovision 2026?
Caleb Kirwan and Naomi Gribben, as a duo. Caleb comes from Dublin, the organisers' profile says, and Naomi from Mayobridge in Co. Down. Their song is "NĂos LĂĄidre", which the fan news site Eurovoix translates as "Stronger", and it is sung in Irish. Ben Pyne, Larissa Tormey, Remy Borsboom and Shauna Carrick are the credited writers.
In the organisers' description, the song is about getting stronger together through friendship and support. In the running order published on Monday 28 September, the Irish pair perform 13th, after North Macedonia and before Albania. Georgia and Spain close the show.
How were Caleb and Naomi chosen?
Through Junior Eurovision Ăire, TG4's selection series, which ended on Sunday 4 October. Louise Cantillon hosted. Niamh NĂ ChrĂłinĂn and Hugh Carr were the permanent judges, and the guest judge for the final was Linda Martin, who won the adult contest for Ireland in 1992.
Three singers reached the final and two went through to a last sing-off. With the judges unable to split them, both were named winners and sent to Malta together. Eurovoix reports that no duo has sung for Ireland at the junior contest before. Ireland was the last of the 16 countries to name its performers, according to the organisers.
Where can you watch Junior Eurovision in Ireland?
On TG4. Viewers in participating countries can watch on their national broadcaster's television channel, the organisers say, and they name TG4 for Ireland. They also say the show is on their official YouTube Kids channel and app.
TG4's own on-air time was not confirmed when we checked on Friday 9 October; the Irish News later listed the TG4 coverage for 8pm on the night, and TG4's schedule for that Saturday lists "Junior Eurovision 2026" at 8pm. Whether the show is on the TG4 Player afterwards is still not confirmed as of Wednesday 4 November.
If you're in Northern Ireland, the UK isn't in this year's running order, so check whether TG4 is in your provider's line-up.
How do you vote in Junior Eurovision 2026?
Online and free, at JESC.TV. Two voting windows have been published. Window one opens at 23:59 CEST on Friday 23 October and closes at 20:59 CEST on Saturday 24 October, just before the show starts. In Irish time that is 10.59pm on Friday to 7.59pm on Saturday.
Window two opens once the last song has been performed and stays open for roughly 15 minutes. Votes are turned into points and announced during the show.
How has Ireland done at Junior Eurovision before?
TG4 first entered for Ireland in 2015, and fourth place is the best finish so far.
| Year | Performer | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Lottie O'Driscoll Murray | RĂșin | Last place, 44 points |
| 2022 | Sophie Lennon | Solas | 4th, 150 points (Ireland's best) |
| 2015 | Aimee Banks | RĂ©alta na mara | 12th (Ireland's debut) |
This table holds only the three years our sources spell out. The 2026 row goes in after the final on Saturday 24 October.
More from Watch Ireland On Air
Next on the events calendar this side of Christmas is the Late Late Toy Show, and we explain why Mrs Brown's Boys has no Christmas special in 2026. For weekly line-ups there's the Late Late Show guest list and The 2 Johnnies' Late Night Lock-In. Competition results are kept in The Traitors Ireland winners, and Dancing with the Stars Ireland is due back in January. For soaps, the nightly grid is in which soaps are on in Ireland each night.
More sections: Christmas & Events · RTĂ · Winners · Guide
Sources
- European Broadcasting Union: Malta 2026 event page, date, 21:00 CEST start, venue, host broadcaster and presenters, checked Friday 9 October
- European Broadcasting Union: Caleb Kirwan & Naomi Gribben participant page, song title, songwriters and TG4 as broadcaster
- European Broadcasting Union (5 October 2026): Caleb Kirwan & Naomi Gribben will represent Ireland, how the pair were selected and where they are from
- European Broadcasting Union (28 September 2026): running order, the 16 countries in performance order
- European Broadcasting Union: how to vote and how to watch, the two voting windows and viewing routes
- Eurovoix (4 October 2026): Caleb Kirwan & Naomi Gribben to Junior Eurovision 2026, the selection final, the judges and Ireland's past results
- Eurovoix (24 October 2026): Armenia Wins the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026, full results list including Ireland on 64 points
- UNN (24 October 2026): Armenia won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026, 202 points, 16 countries
- The Irish News: What time and channel is Junior Eurovision 2026, 8pm on TG4