Kazakhstan was represented at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The Kazakh entrant for the 2020 contest in Warsaw, Poland was selected through a national selection, organised by the Kazakh broadcaster Khabar Agency (KA). The semi-final took place online between 24 and 31 August 2020, while the final took place on 26 September 2020. "Forever" performed by Karakat Bashanova was as the winner.

Background

Prior to the 2020 contest, Kazakhstan's highest placing in the contest was in 2019, when the song "Armanyńnan qalma" performed by Yerzhan Maxim placed 2nd with 227 points.

As Khabar Agency (KA) is not an active member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the broadcaster requires a special invitation from the EBU to participate in Eurovision events. Khabar was first invited to participate in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in . Channel 31 had previously expressed their ambitions to debut in the 2018 contest, and had sent a delegation to the contest.

Before Junior Eurovision

National final Kazakhstan's participation in the 2020 contest was confirmed in June 2020, having been invited to participate by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Khabar announced on 10 August 2020 that artists will be able to submit their applications for the national final until 20 August 2020. From 684 applications submitted, a nine-member jury panel selected 30 acts for the online semi-final. The jury panel consisted of Zhenis Seidullaevich (composer), Dinara Bisembina (Chairman of the Board of Khabar), Bagym Mukhitdenova (music producer), Kairat Baekenov (singer and composer), Erlan Bekchurin (music producer), Zhanar Dugalova (singer), Amre (singer), Dinaya (singer) and Madi Syzdykov (singer).

Semi-final The online semi-final took place between 24 and 31 August 2020 where users were able vote for their favorite artists on Khabar's official website. The top twelve acts with the most votes proceeded to the televised national final and were announced on 1 September 2020.

+ Semi-final1 September 2020ArtistVotesPlace————34,105232,9784——————33,224332,089630,33311——————34,5431——————31,7707————29,6791231,282932,6785————Nurmuhamed Jaqypbekov——30,96010——31,5358——

Final The final took place on 26 September 2020 where twelve competing acts performed their candidate Junior Eurovision songs written for them by composers directly invited by Khabar in a televised production. The winner, "Forever" performed by Karakat Bashanova, was determined by a 50/50 combination of both public telephone vote and the votes of jury members made up of music professionals. "Forever" was composed by Khamit Shangaliyev, who had also composed "", the for the 2019 contest, and written by Ardak Yeleusiz and Abulkhair Adam. The song is dedicated to Bashanova's deceased father.

+ Final – 26 September 2020 Draw Artist SongJuryTelevote Total Place1Islam Saypolda "Otan" 3.6%7.4%11.0%112 Aykerim Tileubek "Winner"13.2%11.0%24.2%33Kamila Gazizkyzy "Jeteleıdi arman" 12.1%2.3%14.4%64Zhan Makim "Brave Heart"9.1%5.3%14.4%65Nurshat Kusanova "Týǵan jer" 5.1%5.6%10.7%126Saniya Altynbekkyzy "Ómir beles" 7.7%6.4%14.1%87Makhinur Tursunova "Uly dalanyń áýeni" 10.0%2.7%12.7%108Aidana Zhumazhan "Heal the World"7.1%5.8%12.9%99Akzhibek Manarbekkyzy "Jer-Ana" 8.8%6.7%15.5%510Adiya Burkhanova "Muza" 5.0%13.5%18.5%411Karakat Bashanova "Forever"14.4%11.5%25.9%112Ayim Mukitanova "Celebrate"4.0%21.1%25.1%2

At Junior Eurovision After the opening ceremony, which took place on 23 November 2020, it was announced that Kazakhstan will perform second on 29 November 2020, following Germany and preceding the Netherlands.

Voting

+ Points awarded to Kazakhstan Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point Kazakhstan received 69 points from the online vote

+ Points awarded by Kazakhstan Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

Detailed voting results + Draw Country Juror A Juror B Juror C Juror D Juror E Rank Points 01 8 8 2 4 10 6 5 02 03 3 2 10 11 5 4 7 04 10 6 4 7 11 8 3 05 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 06 9 5 3 5 6 5 6 07 2 3 9 3 2 2 10 08 5 10 11 9 7 11 09 4 7 8 10 4 7 4 10 11 11 5 6 8 9 2 11 6 9 7 8 9 10 1 12 7 4 6 2 3 3 8

References