Spain will have the final word at Eurovision Junior 2026. Lucas Paulano, a ten-year-old from Jaén, is scheduled to perform sixteenth and last at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre in Ta' Qali on Saturday 24 October, according to RTVE.es. He will sing "Cuore Bello (Te quiero, te quiero)" immediately after Georgia, closing the running order of the 24th edition of the contest.
The show brings together 16 young artists and begins at 21:00. Spanish viewers can follow it live on La 1 and RTVE Play, with Tony Aguilar and Julia Varela on commentary and Víctor Escudero as adviser. The Netherlands opens the night.
Why it matters
The closing slot is a prominent position in any song contest, and for Spain it means the country's entry is the last thing the audience and juries see before voting. RTVE.es notes that the junior format allows viewers to cast a vote for their own country's entry, a rule that does not apply at the adult Eurovision Song Contest. Spanish supporters can therefore back Paulano directly rather than only watching from the sidelines.
The performance also caps a preparation process that has involved a dedicated team. Javier Pageo handled the staging, Verónica Ferreiro worked as vocal coach and Raúl Amor oversaw styling, RTVE.es reports.
A song about love and memories
Paulano wrote "Cuore Bello (Te quiero, te quiero)" with Blas Cantó, Dangelo Ortega and Carlos Almazán. RTVE.es describes the track as dealing with love and memories. For the young performer, the contest is a chance to enjoy the stage, and he has already taken his first rehearsal at the venue, footage of which RTVE.es has released.
At ten years old, he is one of the youngest competitors in a field of 16. The event is being held in Malta for the first time in its current run, with Ta' Qali hosting the 24th edition.
How voting works
Viewers can vote free of charge and select three songs, including Spain's. Gonzalo Pinillos, who represented Spain at the 2025 contest, will read out the Spanish jury's points during the broadcast. The winner will be confirmed once the jury and public results are combined at the end of the night.
RTVE.es reports that the gala starts at 21:00 on Saturday 24 October. The result, and whether Spain's late slot pays off, will be known when the voting closes on La 1 and RTVE Play.
