Croatia is making a significant return to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest after a decade-long hiatus. The nation’s representative for the 2025 edition will be Marino Vrgoč, the talented winner of the inaugural season of The Voice Kids Hrvatska. This announcement was made during HRT’s program “Kod nas doma,” where Marino appeared alongside his mother, Manda, and Tomislav Štengl, the head of Croatia’s Junior Eurovision delegation.
Marino expressed his surprise and excitement about the opportunity:
“I was very surprised when they told me. I couldn’t believe it.”
Since his victory on The Voice Kids, Marino has been performing across the country, gaining recognition and acclaim. His mother, Manda, highlighted the transformative experience the show provided:
“From a quiet boy, he has grown into a very mature person. The whole experience was fantastic — he learned so much and enjoyed every moment.”
Credit: HRT, The Voice Kids, Croatia
A Bright New Star for Croatia
Marino has enjoyed growing popularity since winning The Voice Kids, performing across the country and being recognized in public. According to his mother, Manda, the experience has been life-changing: She also praised the production team behind The Voice Kids Hrvatska, thanking them for the smooth coordination and support they provided throughout the show. Marino and his family had to travel regularly from Ploče, making the journey even more special.
Georgia to Host Junior Eurovision 2025
While the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has not officially confirmed the host city, all signs point to Tbilisi as the location for this year’s Junior Eurovision. Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS mentioned Georgia as the host during the first episode of the Junior Songfestival auditions, and official Georgian government documents from April 9 confirm the country’s intent to organize the event on 13 December 2025.
This will mark Croatia’s first participation in Junior Eurovision since 2014 — a much-anticipated comeback.
What do you think about Marino’s selection to represent Croatia? Do you think the country can make a strong impression in Tbilisi this December? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
