Ahead of the show that will take place this Sunday, November 26, live from the Palais Nikaรฏa in Nice, the sixteen delegations kicked off the competition week at the Negresco with an energetic ceremony.
Cheerleaders, red carpet, cameras, glitterโthe prestigious Negresco Hotel on the Promenade des Anglais transformed into a full-fledged TV set for the opening ceremony of the Junior Eurovision 2023, broadcast live on YouTube and aired later on France 4. The halls of the palace buzzed with children and teenagers at the peak of excitement, dressed in their finest outfits.
Following Lissandro’s victory in Armenia last year with the song “Oh Maman!”, France is organizing for the second time in its history the Junior Eurovision Contest and arrives on the Cรดte dโAzur. Itโs a first in 62 years. The competition will take place this Sunday, November 26, at 4 p.m. live from the Palais Nikaรฏa under the slogan “Heroes”.
To kick off the event, what better way this Monday evening than to showcase local colors? Enter Azur talents. The Pompons Polytech Nice Sophia danced to the song “Dance The Night” by Dua Lipa for the Barbie movie. Les Ambianceurs de Nice followed with a remix of Michael Jackson to launch the show, co-hosted tonight by a Nice native. Carla Lazzari, 5th in the 2019 edition with her hit “Bim Bam Toi”, is presenting alongside Manon Thรฉodet, France Tรฉlรฉvisions host.
Kick-off for the 16 Delegations Competing
Each of the sixteen delegations, from the Netherlands with Sep & Jasmijn to the exclusively female British trio Stand Uniqu3, was then welcomed with music on the red carpet, waving their respective flags with big smiles. Estonia enters the competition this year.
They were first greeted by journalist and wife of the Mayor of Nice, Laura Tenoudji, before greeting and posing with Alexandra Redde-Amiel, executive producer of the contest, Martin รsterdahl, the contest’s executive supervisor, and Christian Estrosi.
Zoรฉ Clausure shared with Clara Lazzari that she is โsuper happy to represent France in Franceโ and is โso eager to be on stage.โ Her predecessors, Angelina, Carla, Valentina, Enzo, and Lissandro delivered an intense performance, accompanied on the piano by TikToker and musician with 9 million followers, VanToan.
France Will Perform in 12th Position
This ceremony was the moment for the traditional draw to learn more about the performance order of the competitors this Sunday on the Nikaรฏa stage.
Season 7 The Voice Kids contestant, Zoรฉ Clausure, will represent France in the twelfth position this Sunday. She will defend the tricolor flag with her song “Cลur.” A lively and bright piece on the theme of school bullying, a phenomenon she has experienced and now denounces through singing.
Spain will have the honor of opening the show, co-hosted by Laury Thilleman, Olivier Minn, and Ophenya as a digital ambassador. The Netherlands will close and offer the final song of the show which aims to gather 35 million viewers across Europe.
