North Macedonia’s representative at Junior Eurovision 2026, Ana Stojanoska, is looking ahead to Malta with a song that turns the idea of growing up into a conversation with the person she hopes to become. Titled 'Idnata Jas' (The Future Me), the entry explores dreams, memories and the importance of staying true to yourself as life changes.
Speaking to Hashtag Eurovision, Ana revealed that her first reaction to being selected to represent North Macedonia was almost disbelief.
I couldn’t stop smiling and couldn’t wait to share the news with my family.
The selection came after an audition in which the jury unanimously chose her for the role. Ana also expressed her gratitude to North Macedonia’s public broadcaster, MRT, for believing in her and giving her the opportunity to take part in the competition.
A conversation with her future self
At the heart of 'Idnata Jas' is an imagined conversation between Ana and the person she will be ten years from now. If she could meet her future self today, she already knows what she would want to ask: “Are you happy?” and “Are you still doing what you love?”
She hopes the answer to both questions will be yes.
The song begins with memories recorded in a childhood diary, an idea that prompted a question about whether Ana keeps a diary of her own. Rather than writing everything down, she says some memories remain in her mind, like a little diary she carries with her.
One moment she knows she wants to preserve forever is finding out that she would represent her country at Junior Eurovision.
For Ana, the recording process also brought a deeper understanding of the song’s emotional message. Working in the studio with the musicians helped her realise “how much feeling you can put into just one line”. She added that the song made her think about her own dreams. As for any funny recording-session mishaps, she left those stories for a possible behind-the-scenes video.
Although Ana is keeping most details of her Junior Eurovision performance secret, she did reveal one important element: she will not be alone on stage.
Three amazing dancers will join me
she said, explaining that they are working on bringing the feeling of the song to life. She offered no further details about the staging, leaving the audience to wait for the full reveal.
The performance will take place in Malta, which is hosting Junior Eurovision for the first time since 2016. Ana is looking forward to exploring the country and making memories with her team during the competition week.
Her suitcase, meanwhile, may be a little overfilled. Asked what she plans to pack, she joked that it will contain more outfits than she needs.
Staying grounded throughout the competition
With the excitement and pressure that come with representing a country on an international stage, Ana says having supportive people around her makes a real difference.
She specifically mentioned North Macedonia’s head of delegation, Dijana Gogova, who reminds her every day to believe in herself and enjoy the experience. Ana says she feels supported by the people around her, helping her stay grounded as she prepares for Malta.
Her idea of a perfect escape would involve flying somewhere by the ocean with her friends, spending the day with her family and doing the things that make her happy — while still making it back in time for rehearsals.
She is also excited to meet the other young performers, describing them as people her age who share her love of music. And she already has a plan for breaking the language barrier: teaching everyone to say “zdravo”, the Macedonian word for “hello”.
What does Ana want to remember ten years from now?
Looking back at her Junior Eurovision performance a decade from now, Ana hopes to smile and tell herself: “You are brave and you really enjoyed it.”
Beyond the performance itself, she wants to remember the friendships she made and the experience of sharing her song with so many people. She described those memories as “a lovely present” for her future self.
It is a fitting thought for a song built around the person Ana will become. While 'Idnata Jas' asks whether she will remain happy and continue doing what she loves, her Junior Eurovision journey is already giving her memories she hopes will stay with her for years to come.
Watch the full interview here:
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