Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004

Format and rules

As with other editions, each participating country submitted one original song performed live. Performers were required to be within the specified age range and songs were generally televised in their original languages or with partial translations. Voting followed the familiar Eurovision points system: each country awarded points to their ten preferred songs (1–8, 10 and 12 points). Where public televoting was not available or practical, national juries supplemented or replaced it to produce each country's set of points. The contest emphasized family-friendly staging and short, polished performances suited to the age of the performers.

Participants and results

Eighteen countries took part in 2004. France and Switzerland made their first appearances, expanding the contest's geographic reach. Although twenty broadcasters initially applied, two broadcasters subsequently withdrew their entries: Germany and Israel. The winner of the 2004 contest was Spain, whose young performer María Isabel took first place with the song "Antes muerta que sencilla." The podium again featured Spain, the United Kingdom and Croatia among the top three nations, repeating the same trio of leading countries from the first edition.

Hosts, production and venue

The show was presented by Stian Barsnes Simonsen and Nadia Hasnaoui. Norwegian broadcaster NRK organized the live production in Lillehammer; Håkons Hall—an arena built for large sporting events—served as the venue and provided the capacity and technical facilities needed for an international television show. The production highlighted a winter-themed visual identity in keeping with the contest's chosen slogan.

Broadcast, audience and legacy

The 2004 show was transmitted across multiple countries and was reported to have reached a broad audience. It was broadcast in around 20 territories and attracted a sizeable cumulative viewership. The contest helped establish the Junior Eurovision as a recurring platform for young talent across Europe and beyond, giving several young artists early experience on an international stage and influencing how national broadcasters approached youth-oriented music programming.

Notable facts

• Second edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest; reinforced the format introduced in 2003.
• Debut appearances by France and Switzerland expanded the participant base.
• Theme: "Bright Nordic Winter Nights," reflecting the host country's seasonal imagery.
• Hosts: Stian Barsnes Simonsen and Nadia Hasnaoui led the live broadcast.
• Two initially interested broadcasters withdrew, reducing the final field to eighteen.

For further information on the event series and participating delegations see related resources and broadcaster summaries via the Lillehammer event notes, the host nation Norway coverage, and archived pages on the presenters and production team (presenters). Additional official and fan-curated records provide detailed scoreboards and song histories for the 2004 contest.