The EBU have announced how viewers are able to vote online at Junior Eurovision for the first time in the contest’s history.

This year’s contest on Sunday, November 26th (which takes place in Tbilisi, Georgia), will be the fifteenth year of the contest – and things are getting more interactive with the addition of an online vote!

It’s the first time that we’ve ever seen this at JESC/ESC, although a similar vote was originally going to be held at the 2014 Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Malta – to give out a separate ‘online award’ to the lucky winner – however, high demand from fans on the evening caused the technology to fail, as explained at the press conference after the show.

So, here’s how it works… From Friday, November 24th – wherever you are in the world – you are able to vote for your favourite songs at junioreurovision.tv

A preview of all 16 performances will be available to watch and listen to – and after doing so you will able to vote for 3, 4 or 5 of your favourite songs from the 2017 contest. And, for the first time in Eurovision history – you are able to vote for your own country!!

The online vote will close just before the live broadcast takes place at 16:00CET on Sunday, November 26th – but will re-open after all of the 16 songs have been performed during a 15-minute window.

All of the votes will then be sent to the Junior Eurovision voting team, added together, and converted to points on the scoreboard.

The online vote will count for 50% of the total score, with the other 50% being decided by the juries!

A video of how to vote can be viewed below:

15 of the 16 competing songs have already been chosen, with Ireland still to announce their song and singer on November 19th.

Participating countries will be airing the contest on their broadcast TV channels – while international viewers will be able to watch and join in the fun online.

What are your thoughts on the new online voting system? Would you like to see it in Lisbon in May? Let us know in the comments below!