Members of the Euromix editorial team convened to vote for the competing songs in “Selecția Națională 2026″. Who should represent Moldova at Eurovision according to the editorial team?
Moldova’s “Selecția Națională 2026” will take place tonight, Saturday, January 17th, 2026, at 18:00 CET. The winner of the local competition will represent the country at Eurovision 2026 which will be held in Vienna, Austria. For the first time, the winner will be chosen through a combination of votes from the live audience (33%), local judges (33%), and international judges (33%). In anticipation of this event, Euromix editorial team members gathered to listen to the participating songs and select their favorites from Moldova’s “Selecția Națională 2026” .
Editorial Picks: Who Should Represent Moldova?
Avi Zaikaner: First Place – Satoshi – “Viva, Moldova”
Satoshi brings to Selecția Națională’s stage an ethno-rock performance that fuses traditional folk elements with powerful rock energy. The lyrics aim to uplift and inspire the Moldovan nation – a small, poor, and struggling country. The text portrays Moldova as a small nation with a big heart: proud of its roots, connected to Europe and the world, living between nostalgia and celebration. This is the only song in the national final that can truly stand out in the competition and take Moldova to the Eurovision final.
Ofek Jerassi: First Place – Satoshi – “Viva, Moldova”
A weak national selection for Moldova, as usual, but a significant improvement compared to last year! My winner is Satoshi, who presented a song that truly reflects the Moldovan spirit – in the Moldovan language and featuring local instruments, something missing from other entries. Although Satoshi brought politics into the competition, if we judge the song on its own – it’s the most fitting one. Good luck (or maybe not?).
Adiel Shtainmetz: First Place – Cătălina Solomac – “Pink Margarita”
Moldova, you surprised me! The selection wasn’t as bad as I expected — there are a few enjoyable songs here. The overall level isn’t very high, but compared to Moldova’s usual standards, it’s quite a good national final. My clear winner is Cătălina Solomac with the song “Pink Margarita” — a fun, upbeat pop song that I just can’t get out of my head! With every listen, I find myself loving it more and more. Although it’s a fairly simple pop track and not the most unique, it’s definitely the best and most memorable entry this year, in my opinion. For me, this would be the right choice for Moldova — though it seems that Satoshi will likely win “Selecția Națională” with the song “Viva Moldova”. I don’t connect much with his style, but it could still perform well in the contest.
Shahar “Chacha” Asido: First Place – Maxim Zavidia – “Allo”
The song I chose is by Maxim Zavidia, simply because it’s the most pleasant one from Moldova’s “Selecția Națională”, which really disappointed me this year. Although this song isn’t particularly high in quality in my opinion, it still has the most potential among all the options.
Neta Geffen: First Place – Dayana – “Doina”
How I’ve missed Moldova — one of my favorite Eurovision countries — and the song “Doina” by Dayana feels like the perfect reminder of why it’s so easy to fall in love with it again.
It’s a brave and intriguing choice that stands out thanks to its deep loyalty to local roots and identity. Instead of chasing Eurovision clichés, this is a folkloric piece with a ceremonial and contemplative tone, feeling more like a story or a prayer than a pop song. The vocal performance is precise, restrained, and filled with genuine emotion – one that doesn’t try to impress but still manages to move deeply. “Doina” may not offer an instant catchy chorus, but it leaves a lasting impression and provides an authentic, dignified alternative within Moldova’s competitive “Selecția Națională”.
Maor Heumann: First Place – Satoshi – “Viva, Moldova”
I’m glad to see Moldova returning, as it has given us some of the most memorable moments in Eurovision over the past two decades — with joyful folk songs that stand out among the hollow pop entries and soulless ballads. “Viva, Moldova” is exactly that kind of song. Usually, the public loves this type of entry much more than the juries do, but Satoshi has everything needed to become this year’s “Televote Bomb”, ensuring Moldova a spot in the top ten.
Tal Dahan: First Place – Cătălina Solomac – “Pink Margarita”
The Moldovan national selection is relatively weak this year, yet there was one song that caught my attention from the very first moment. It’s Cătălina Solomac’s “Pink Margarita” — a pure pop song that’s simply fun to listen to and dance along with (and you can be sure I already know the dance). Even the singer’s pink-dyed hair and the vibrant atmosphere Cătălina has created so far while promoting the song fit it perfectly. At the moment, it’s one of my favorite songs of the entire season, and I truly hope Moldova will be wise enough to choose it. I wouldn’t mind seeing “Foc La Ghete” either — another wonderful entry that brings us back to Moldova’s golden Eurovision days.
Noy Yehoyada: First Place – Evgenii Avramov & ALenin Ivan – “Foc La Ghete”
How much I’ve missed Moldova! My undisputed winner in this selection is the song “Foc La Ghete” — a song that perfectly captures the very essence of Moldovan DNA: rural folklore, explosive joy, and an authenticity that simply can’t be faked.
This song is a wonderful reminder that Moldova’s mission in the contest has always been to bring a smile to viewers’ faces. It carries an infectious and liberating vibe that makes you want to get up, dance, and momentarily forget all the over-polished trends of modern music.
How great it is to have Moldova back in the contest this year! This is exactly the kind of song we need in the first semi-final alongside us — one that lifts the atmosphere and eases the tension.
Talor Fishler: First Place – Satoshi – “Viva, Moldova”
This year’s Moldovan national selection offered a mix of folk, rock, and upbeat pop, with almost no ballads — and I really enjoyed listening to it. My clear winner is “Viva, Moldova”. Although I’m aware of the recent developments, I choose to focus on the song itself and leave the tough decisions to the competition organizers.
This song checks every box I have for a Eurovision entry: it’s youthful, innovative, and blends folk elements with local flavors perfectly. It successfully connects Moldovan culture and tradition with Europe and contemporary music, especially through the use of traditional instruments in a catchy rhythm that sticks in your head. The powerful and assertive vocals of Satoshi and his band create a special intensity, and I’m sure that if this reaches the Eurovision stage, it will be an unforgettable performance.
Oscar Diefenthal: First Place – Evgenii Avramov & ALenin Ivan – “Foc La Ghete”
If you’ve ever wondered what classic Moldovan music with a modern twist sounds like — here it is. The Moldovan duo presents the song “Foc La Ghete”, which immediately brings the atmosphere of a true Moldovan celebration. It’s catchy, cheerful, and full of energy, showcasing Moldovan culture at its best. This song simply makes you smile and want to get up and dance, and like Moldova at Eurovision 2022, it has everything needed to light up the Eurovision stage. Definitely my favorite entry in this year’s Moldova’s “Selecția Națională”!
Talya Raviv: First Place – Valleria – “Valerian Steel Rai Di Ri Di Dam”
This year, Moldova returned to the Eurovision competition with a rather unsuccessful comeback, and it seems the country isn’t aiming for a glittering victory in Vienna. To me, the “Selecția Națională” feels like one big circus made up of songs of very low quality. Among all the entries, the one I connected with most was Valleria’s song — a catchy track with a strong melody and an evolving, captivating structure. That said, I don’t foresee it achieving major success on the big European stage. In my opinion, Moldova is likely to remain outside the Eurovision final this year.
Maayan Eli: First Place – Dayana – “Doina”
I don’t think I have a clear first place this time, as I usually do — but “Doina” definitely deserves the honor. Besides the fact that it’s not in English, which always adds a special touch for me, there’s something exotic and non-mainstream about it. The melody is enchanting and transports the imagination to strange and wonderful worlds. The gradually intensifying rhythm adds variety to a song that largely repeats itself, turning its repetitiveness into something appealing rather than annoying. The song has depth and multiple layers, and it never grows tiresome to listen to. Dayana has an intriguing and magical vocal tone that I hope will shine nicely live on stage. The style reminds me of Latvia’s entry from last year, which I really connected with, and I can only hope that the stage performance will reach the same level. There’s so much artistry and visual creativity that this song allows, making it undoubtedly Moldova’s best song this year — and probably the one that will stand out the most.
Aviad Berger: First Place – Cătălina Solomac – “Pink Margarita”
Really, Moldova? Really? All that drama and stormy withdrawal last year with promises to improve — for this dreadful national final? Wow. I’m speechless, you truly disappointed me. It was genuinely hard for me to choose a winner in this “Selecția Națională”, but in the end, I went with Cătălina Solomac. Not necessarily the best song, and I’m not even sure it would rank high for me if it’s chosen. But overall, it’s one of the few decent songs in this “Selecția Națională”. I hope you manage to qualify for the final, Moldova — though I’m not sure you deserve it.
Full Results
| Artist | Avi | Ofek | Adiel | Shahar | Neta | Maor | Tal | Noy | Talor | Oscar | Talya | Maayan | Aviad | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cătălina Solomac | 5 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 118 |
| Satoshi | 12 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 102 | |
| Valleria | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 80 | |
| Dayana | 10 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 78 | |||
| Bacho | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 72 |
| Evgenii Avramov & ALenin Ivan | 8 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 69 | ||||
| Adelisha | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 51 | |||
| Maxim Zavidia | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 41 | |||
| Katy Rain | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 33 | ||||
| Cristy Rouge | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 30 | |||||
| Curly | 3 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 24 | |||||||
| Ilinca Siviroveanu | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 | ||||||||
| Artiom Topal | 3 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 20 | ||||||||
| Pavel Orlov | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | ||||||||
| Emforia | 2 | 3 | 5 | |||||||||||
| Sasha Flowers | 1 | 1 |
List of Contestants and Their Songs:
- Adelisha – “Alegria“
- Sasha Flowers – “We fight till the end“
- Artiom Topal – “Money“
- Catalina Solomac – “Pink Margarita“
- Cristy Rouge – “Bliss“
- DAYANA – “Doina“
- Bacho – “Tata“
- Emforia – “Tipare“
- Evghenii Avramov & ALenin Ivan – “Foc la ghete“
- Ilinca Siviroveanu – “Running through the rain“
- Curly – “Respir liber“
- Katy Rain – “Dance & Cry“
- Maxim Zavidia – “Allo“
- Pavel Orlov – “Can’t say goodbye“
- Satoshi – “Viva, Moldova“
- Valleria – “Valerian Steel rai di ri di dam“
Click on the song title to listen!
Eurovision 2026: This will be Moldova’s 20th participation in Eurovision. Moldova joined the competition in 2005 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2017 when SunStroke Project finished in third place with the song “Hey Mamma”.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
