Eurovision 2026 is approaching: 20 artists auditioned before professional judges in Poland ● Ten will advance to the national selection on February 14th.
Poland is taking a significant step toward Eurovision 2026, as auditions for “Polskich Kwalifikacji” were held yesterday in Warsaw. Twenty artists chosen by TVP’s selection committee performed before a professional panel, aiming to secure the opportunity to represent the country in Vienna.
The auditions focused on singing abilities, stage presence, and overall artistic readiness. Not all contestants were required to perform — artists with proven professional experience were exempt from performing their song before the judges, in accordance with TVP regulations. At the end of the process, ten artists will be selected to compete in “Polskich Kwalifikacji” taking place on February 14th. In addition, a backup list of candidates will be created in case any of the chosen participants are disqualified or withdraw from the competition.
Audition Process and Selection Criteria
The Polish national broadcaster TVP is expected to complete the entire selection process and finalize the lineup of contestants in the coming days. The competing artists and songs will be revealed to the public on January 14th. Until then, anticipation and excitement among the artists and the wider audience are expected to continue growing, as each contestant dreams of performing on Europe’s biggest stage.
During “Polskich Kwalifikacji” on February 14th, the Polish public will have full authority to decide who will represent Poland at Eurovision 2026. The winner will be determined by a public vote, with a jury panel stepping in only in the event of a tie or technical issues.
Potential Contestants to Watch
Two well-known artists have already revealed their interest in representing Poland at Eurovision 2026:
Magdalena Tul, who represented Poland in 2011 with the song “Jestem“, finished 19th and last in the first semi-final with just 18 points. She has submitted her new song “I’ll Be Around” to the national selection. Tul hopes to represent Poland at the contest set to take place in Vienna, Austria.
Michał Szpak, who represented Poland in 2016 with “Color of Your Life“, earned the country a respectable eighth-place finish. He placed 25th in the jury vote with only 7 points but achieved third place in the public vote with 222 points Poland’s best public voting result since 2016.
Poland at Eurovision: The Chase for Replicating Its First Success
Poland is often viewed as an unpredictable participant in the Eurovision Song Contest. The country has competed 27 times but has never secured a victory. It has missed the competition four times and withdrew once more in 2020, when Alicja Szemplinska’s song “Empires” was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poland first joined Eurovision in 1994 and immediately reached the top of the scoreboard when Edyta Górniak and the song “To Nie Ja!” finished second with 166 points — setting a high standard for future entries. The following year, Justyna Steczkowska represented Poland with “Sama”, finishing 18th, though the song marked an early artistic highlight for the nation.
Poland’s points average gradually declined, leading to irregular appearances throughout the 2000s. The introduction of semifinals also proved challenging: between 2005 and 2011, Poland reached the final just once — in 2008, finishing tied in last place with Germany and the United Kingdom.
The country skipped Eurovision in 2000, 2002, 2012, and 2013. Aside from its debut performance in 1994, Poland has reached the Top 10 only twice more: in Eurovision 2003 (7th place) and Eurovision 2016 (8th place).
Since semifinals were introduced in 2004, Poland has qualified for the grand final nine times out of 19 attempts, often experiencing long streaks of non-qualification, in 2005–2007, in 2009–2011, and in 2018–2021. Polish entries tend to perform far better with televoters than with juries, regularly showing wide gaps in scoring between the criticizing juries and the loving televote.
In 2025, Poland set a record for the longest comeback in Eurovision history when Justyna Steczkowska, who competed in 1995, returned to represent Poland again in Eurovision 2025 in Basel, marking a 30-year return to the stage.
Poland in Eurovision 2025
“GAJA” was the name of the song performed by Justyna Steczkowska at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Poland finished seventh in the first semifinal with 85 points, qualified for the Grand Final, and ultimately achieved 14th place with 156 points.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Poland’s 28th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Poland joined the competition in 1994 and achieved its best result that same year when singer Edyta Górniak reached second place with the song “To nie ja!”.
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A writer and content creator with a strong specialization in the Eurovision scene, particularly across Eastern Europe and post-Soviet countries. His work highlights the artistry, storytelling, and cultural variety that define the contest, offering readers a deeper look into both established performers and emerging voices.
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