Armenia to host Eurovision Young Musicians with $1.6M state funding

Armenia will host the 22nd edition of the Eurovision Young Musicians competition on June 6 in Yerevan, with the government allocating about 665 million drams ($1.6 million) to support the event, officials said on Thursday.

The contest, organized by Armenia’s Public TV Company in cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union and backed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, will be staged at the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Minister Zhanna Andreasyan said the event would highlight Armenia’s role in classical music internationally and coincide with the birthday of composer Aram Khachaturian. Performances are planned inside the opera house and on rooftop stages, with live broadcasts in 11 countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Portugal.

Armenia’s representative will be 15-year-old flutist Elen Virabyan, who has already performed with leading orchestras abroad. The funding will cover organizational, technical and production costs, while ticketing details are expected later. Outdoor screens will allow wider audiences to follow the competition beyond the 1,200-seat venue.

Andreasyan said accompanying cultural programs would showcase Armenia’s museums and art centers to visiting delegations, aiming to boost tourism flows.