Ukraine’s Eurovision Entry

Ukraine has picked Leléka and “Ridnym” for Eurovision 2026 after the act won Vidbir, the country’s televised national final, on February 7. (eurovisionworld.com) Leléka finished first with both the jury and the public in a 10-song final in Kyiv, giving the act 20 points overall under Vidbir’s 50-50 voting system. Hosts were Timur Miroshnychenko and Lesia Nikitiuk, and the jury included Ruslana and Zlata Ognevich. (eurovisionworld.com) (aussievision.net) Aussievision reported that Leléka beat Laud on 18 points and Jerry Heil on 16, while pre-show favorite Monokate finished sixth. The same report said Leléka had been polling strongly with fans before the final despite not entering as the bookmakers’ favorite. (aussievision.net) “Ridnym” mixes Ukrainian and English lyrics, with a refrain about “stitching” a new destiny “for my kin,” according to the official lyric page. Eurovisionworld’s translation renders the title as “To loved ones.” (eurovisionworld.com) That entry arrives with the kind of record that turns every Ukrainian selection into a bigger story than a normal national final. Ukraine has won Eurovision three times — in 2004, 2016 and 2022 — and has qualified for the final in every contest it has entered since debuting in 2003. (reference.org) (eurovisionworld.com) The recent baseline is high, too. Ziferblat took Ukraine to ninth place at Eurovision 2025 in Basel with “Bird of Pray,” after winning its semi-final on 137 points and scoring 218 in the grand final. (eurovisionworld.com) (kyivindependent.com) As of April 20, bookmakers tracked by Eurovisionworld had Ukraine ninth to win Eurovision 2026, with an estimated 3% winning chance. The same odds table listed Finland first, followed by France and Denmark. (eurovisionworld.com) The contest itself is now on a fixed calendar. Eurovision 2026 will be held in Vienna, with semi-finals on May 12 and May 14 and the grand final on May 16, and Ukraine has been drawn into the second semi-final. (eurovision.com 1) (eurovision.com 2) Early fan reaction has been mixed but substantial in volume. Eurovisionworld’s song page for Ukraine showed a 3.4-star rating from 16,372 users when checked on April 20, a sign that “Ridnym” is drawing attention even before rehearsals begin in Vienna. (eurovisionworld.com) For Ukraine, that leaves a familiar equation: a demanding fan base, a strong qualification record, and a song that has already survived the country’s toughest public music vote. The next test is whether “Ridnym” grows from a Vidbir winner into a Eurovision contender on the Vienna stage. (aussievision.net) (eurovision.com)