Ireland's Junior Eurovision Duo Naomi and Caleb Step Toward Malta's 'Magical' Stage
Ireland's Junior Eurovision singers Naomi, 13, and Caleb, 14, are preparing for the biggest show of their young lives. Both feel comfortably at home in the spotlight, but as Saturday approaches they admit some nerves are creeping in.
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be held on Saturday in Malta. Ireland's representatives are Naomi, from Mayobridge in County Down, and Caleb, from Dublin. They are the contest's only duo.
They are among 16 nations in total competing to win the contest, which will be staged under the theme The Festa, a vibrant celebration of Malta's village tradition. The running order for Saturday's show has already been drawn, with the Irish act performing 13th.
The pair say their song, Níos Láidre, is about lifting people up and being there for one another. The title is the Irish word for 'stronger'.
Singing runs in Naomi's family, inherited from her nanny and grandad, and the 13-year-old is no stranger to the stage — it is where she feels most at home. Even so, she cannot help feeling a little nervous ahead of Saturday. "We are definitely a wee bit nervous but we're very excited and grateful to be here. It's going to be loads of fun," she said. "I'm very excited about being on that stage and just performing and representing our country."
Caleb, 14, said the tune "truly is about lifting people up and being there for one another and being very powerful on your own, but even more powerful with others". Caleb, who has been training in the performing arts since the age of six, said how proud he was of himself and Naomi for being able to represent Ireland.
Caleb said family and friends were travelling over to support them, and that the backing from their schools, families, friends and performing arts schools has been amazing. "We're both so excited. We've already done a few rehearsals on the stage and everything's gone so well. So I think we're ready," he said.
The duo's collaboration itself came about during their individual searches to be Ireland's entry earlier this month. The pair, who had entered individually, were left standing at the end of the night with the judges unable to choose. It was then decided that Caleb and Naomi would represent Ireland together.
"It's very magical and we're just so happy being on the stage and it feels like our second home," said Naomi. She added that the pair have had the opportunity to mingle with competitors from other nations, getting close to Harry from Cyprus, Eslin from Albania, Beppe from Malta and their dancers.
Caleb's mum Jennifer Kirwan, who travelled to Malta alongside Naomi's mum, said the support "has been amazing". Family members were flying in, it was getting "very real, very exciting", and the support had gone global — with well-wishers tuning in from Perth, Brisbane and America as well as back home.
Fans have two windows to cast their votes. Unlike the main Eurovision contest, the public can vote for their own country. The first window opens at 22:59 BST on Friday and runs until 19:59 on Saturday, just before the live show starts. Voting then reopens after the final song has been performed during the live show, with approximately 15 minutes to cast votes. All votes will be converted into points, which will be revealed during the show.
With rehearsals complete, family at their side and support pouring in from around the world, Naomi and Caleb are now waiting to step onto Saturday's 'magical' stage.
