The Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne officially announced that 451 songs were submitted to “Vidbir 2026”. This platform will choose the Ukrainian entry for Eurovision 2026, which will be held in Vienna, Austria.
The Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspline officially announced that 451 songs were submitted for the local selection event “Vidbir 2026”, which will determine Ukraine’s entry for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. Ukraine continues to use its national selection process, first introduced in 2016 when the country won for the second time – with Jamala and her powerful song “1944”.
Submission Details and Timeline
Suspline confirmed the impressive number of song submissions, noting that the window for submissions was open between September 3rd and October 27th. The entries came from 392 separate artists, including 313 solo acts and 79 bands. The candidate list features 30 musicians who previously attempted to represent Ukraine.
Finalists for the national selection will be unveiled on December 15th, while additional acts for the “Rehabilitation Round” will be revealed on January 15th. Up to 9 acts will compete directly, with one more selected by Ukrainian viewers. The winner – the Ukrainian Eurovision act – will be chosen in February 2026, although the exact date remains undisclosed.
Artistic Impact and Statements
Following the announcement, Eurovision 2016 winner and Vidbir 2026 music producer, Jamala, expressed gratitude towards Ukrainian artists:
“I am grateful that you trusted me and the Suspline team to listen to the songs you submitted during the window for entries. It is a great honor for me, and I feel I play an important role – as if I am collecting modern folklore. Yes, do not be surprised! You are the folklore of today. Why? Because you sing songs that reveal our historical moment and your personal confessions. For me, this is truly a great honor and responsibility”.
Growing Public Interest
This year’s surge in interest is reflected in the number of entries, which marks the highest in years. In 2025, submissions slightly dropped, but 2026 saw a notable increase of 77 more entries than the previous year.
- 2023: 384 Songs were submitted
- 2024: 389 Songs were submitted
- 2025: 374 Songs were submitted
- 2025: 451 Songs were submitted
Head of the Ukrainian delegation for Eurovision 2026, Oksana Skybinska, expressed satisfaction with the turnout:
“This year we received 451 unique submissions for the national selection, excluding duplicate or fake entries. These are authentic applications from diverse artists – both well-known within the Eurovision community and new faces. It’s great to see the increase in submissions compared to previous years. This means that artists have something to share with the world, and the national selection is ready to be an open platform for that. We hope that the selection process will discover new musical talents and fill playlists with modern Ukrainian music”.
Ukraine’s Eurovision Journey
Ukraine, alongside Sweden, stands as one of Eurovision’s most successful countries in the 21st century. It has won three times: in 2004 with Ruslana and “Wild Dances“, in 2016 with Jamala and “1944”, and in 2022 with Kalush Orchestra and “Stefania“. Ukraine has also placed second twice and third twice and is one of the only countries, along with Luxembourg (returning in 2024), never missed a Grand Final.
Ukraine at Eurovision 2025
“Bird of Pray” is the name of the song that was performed by Ziferblat, representing Ukraine in Eurovision 2025. Ukraine qualified for the final from the first semi-final of the contest and finished 9th overall with 218 points. Ukraine finished 6th in tele-votes and 14th in jury votes.
The Ukrainian result is their worst one since 2018.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Ukraine’s 21st participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Ukraine joined the competition in 2003 and has won it three times. Ukraine’s last victory was in Eurovision 2022 with the song “Stefania” performed by Kalush Orchestra.
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A writer and content creator in the field of Eurovision, a commentator with extensive expertise in the modern era of the contest. Adiel’s vast knowledge and familiarity with Eurovision are reflected in every article, ensuring professional and up-to-date content. He closely follows song releases and various Eurovision pre-events. Adiel has a fondness for cultures and new languages, which he discovered through his love of Eurovision. In his writing, he places great emphasis on professional commentary and a diversity of opinions.
