Members of the Euromix editorial team convened to vote for the competing songs in “Vidbir 2026″. Who should represent Ukraine at Eurovision according to the editorial team?
Ukraine’s “Vidbir 2026” will take place tomorrow, Saturday, February 7th, 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. The winner will be chosen through a combination of votes from the televotes (50%) and jury (50%). In anticipation of this event, Euromix editorial team members gathered to listen to the participating songs and select their favorites from Ukraine’s “Vidbir 2026” .
Editorial Picks: Who Should Represent Ukraine?
Avi Zaikaner: First Place – Jerry Heil – “Catharticus”
Jerry Heil returns to the national Eurovision selection after a one-year break, this time leaving behind an important partner — Alyona Alyona. The song belongs to a different genre and sounds somewhat dated; it felt like a throwback to the ’90s. Her vocals here aren’t at their best, and the spoken-word section in the middle feels completely unnecessary. We’re all familiar with Jerry’s anti-Israel views, and I really wanted to rank her lower — the problem is that all the other songs are even worse.
Adiel Shtainmetz: First Place – Jerry Heil – “Catharticus”
On first listen, none of the competing songs really stood out to me – except for ‘Do You Hear Me’ by Mon Fia, which unfortunately didn’t make the final. But after several more listens, I realized there are four songs with real standout potential in this Vidbir. My top pick is Jerry Heil with ‘Catharticus.’ Initially, I felt underwhelmed, but the song grew on me and became a personal favorite. This is clearly the right choice for Ukraine – it has huge staging potential, and if the live performance matches what I imagine, Ukraine could easily return to the top five.
Maor Heumann: First Place – Monokate – “Tyt”
I was thrilled to hear that Kateryna Pavlenko is returning to Vidbir — this time without her band Go_A, but with the same enchanting voice that captured my heart in 2021. Once again, she manages to blend a haunting, emotional melody with powerful, soaring vocals and an upbeat rhythm that makes you want to dance. I hope the Ukrainian audience makes the right choice again, so we can see her on stage in Vienna, recreating both the magic and the success of her past performance.
Ofek Jerassi: First Place – LELÉKA – “Ridnim”
A dreadful Ukrainian selection — I didn’t add a single song to my playlist. It seems Ukraine is starting to rely on sympathy votes at Eurovision rather than the high musical standards its industry is known for, because Vidbir has been declining sharply over the past two years. I will give credit to LELÉKA’s song, which is genuinely pleasant and fun to listen to, but unfortunately, Ukraine will probably choose Jerry Heil’s dreadful entry instead.
Aviad Berger: First Place – Monokate – “Tyt”
I’m probably in the minority here, but I really loved the Ukrainian national final this year! There are quite a few strong songs, led by past representative Monokate. From the very first fraction of a second, I immediately felt this was her song, with her DNA and unmistakable fingerprint all over it. I keep humming it on repeat and really hope she manages to make it to Vienna.
Talya Raviv: First Place – Valleria – LELÉKA – “Ridnim”
Among all the songs competing in the Ukrainian national selection, LELÉKA’s entry is by far my favorite. The structure of the song is delicate, evolving, powerful, and dramatic, and it felt to me like all these elements merged into something resembling a cinematic scene. I really loved the backing vocals and the strong chorus, but what I connected to most was the operatic section. I genuinely believe that with the right staging, this song could achieve a high placing in the contest in Vienna.
Neta Geffen: First Place – Monokate – “Tyt”
Overall, I liked Vidbir less this year, but if I have to pick a song, the spot clearly belongs to Monokate. It is a strong, tight song with a clear presence, one that feels ready for the Eurovision stage. On the other hand, it is hard for me to ignore the feeling that it does not really bring anything new or surprising compared with what we have already heard from her, and it mainly recalls “Shum” in its structure and atmosphere. It feels more like a safe, polished choice than a new creative journey, but in a selection that did not offer many unforgettable moments, she still stands out above the rest.
Oscar Diefenthal: First Place – LAUD – “Lightkeeper”
This year’s Vidbir is surprisingly rich in styles, ranging from songs with traditional roots to classic, polished pop. Among them all, the one who stood out to me most was Laud, a well-known singer in Ukraine whose songs have already made it onto radio stations in several countries. This year he brings an addictive track that doesn’t grab you immediately, but grows on you with every listen. The precise synergy with the band, which fills the space with energy and a live atmosphere, turns the song into a complete experience and my personal choice for winner of the selection.
Rachel Geron: First Place – Valleria – LELÉKA – “Ridnim”
LELÉKA is my winner by a wide margin over all the other competitors in this selection. Her song is deeply moving, and her voice sounds as if it were taken from a fairy tale, giving me chills every single time I hear it. In my opinion, the use of the Ukrainian language is simply spot-on. I am sure that with precise vocals and the right staging, it could not only win the national final but also bring Ukraine back to a high place on the scoreboard.
Shahar “Chacha” Asido: First Place – Jerry Heil – “Catharticus”
My number one song is Jerry Heil’s. I do think most people will lose interest halfway through, since it is very repetitive, but considering the rest of the entries in the Ukrainian national selection, it is definitely the most suitable song.
Talor Fishler: First Place – Monokate – “Tyt”
This year’s Ukrainian national selection is quite disappointing, which is a shame, since this is a country that usually knows how to send very high-quality songs. I chose “Tyt” as my winner, even though it is one of the less successful songs by Monokate that I have heard so far. What tipped the scales was simply my connection to the style and to her unique voice; I did not find any option I preferred in this year’s selection, so she remains my top choice for 2026.
Noy Yehoyada: First Place – Monokate – “Tyt”
As someone who fell in love with Ukraine at Eurovision thanks to Go_A, seeing Kateryna compete again on her own warms my heart! This year’s Vidbir feels very weak to me, and although “Tyt” doesn’t stand out the most on first listen, we mustn’t forget this is a song for the stage, not the radio! With the right staging (and it will be right), we’ll get the most electrifying and energizing performance out there. Ukraine knows how to put on a show on stage, and they need a song by a beloved artist to justify the Top 10 they’re going to get in the Grand Final!
Tal Dahan: First Place – Jerry Heil – “Catharticus”
This year’s Ukrainian Eurovision national selection is disappointing, and I didn’t connect much with the songs in it. I really loved Jerry Heil’s song with Alyona Alyona at Eurovision 2024, and although I think she shouldn’t have returned to the contest so soon — I couldn’t deny that her song is the best. Among all the competing entries, it’s the one that I believe will bring Ukraine the best result, because it’s authentic on one hand, and accessible and catchy to the wider audience on the other. This combination, along with Jerry’s unique voice, could bring Ukraine back to the Top 5 this year.
Maayan Eli: First Place – Monokate – “Tyt”
Monokate delivers a song that’s typical of her, which means it’s successful. I didn’t like too many songs in this selection, which means she didn’t have much competition from my perspective. We all already know she’s vocally excellent, creatively strong, and visually striking, so there’s not much room for error in choosing her. The fact that she sings in Ukrainian and always blends ethnicity with electronic music has always been a strength in my eyes, and she remains consistent in her sound and the escalating rhythm throughout the song.
Full Results
| Singers | Avi | Adiel | Maor | Ofek | Aviad | Talya | Netta | Oscar | Rachel | Shahar | Talor | Noy | Tal | Mayaan | Summary |
| Monokate | 10 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 131 |
| Jerry Heil | 12 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 115 |
| Molodi | 4 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 100 |
| LELÉKA | 2 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 96 |
| Laud | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 70 |
| Mr. Vel | 3 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 64 |
| The Elliens | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 64 |
| Valeriya Force | 8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 62 |
| Khayat | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 60 |
| ShchukaRyba | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50 |
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”.
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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.
