Ukraine at Eurovision 2026: LELÉKA will perform “Ridnym” in the second semi-final on May 14 in Vienna, Austria. Listen to the song.
The Ukrainian-German folk-jazz band secured maximum points from both the audience and the jury, defeating renowned and seasoned competitors, including Jerry Heil, Monokate, and LAUD.
Full Results
| Place | Song Name | Jury Points | Public Points | Total |
| 1 | LELÉKA – Ridnym | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| 2 | LAUD – Lightkeeper | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| 3 | Jerry Heil – Catharticus | 8 | 8 | 16 |
| 4 | Mr. Vel – Do or Done | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| 5 | KHAYAT – Hertzi | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 6 | Monokate – Tut | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 7 | Valeriya Force – Open Our Hearts | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | MOLODI – The Legends | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 9 | The Elliens – Crawling Whispers | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 10 | ShchukaRyba – Moya Zeml | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Who Are LELÉKA?
LELÉKA is a Ukrainian-German folk-jazz ensemble led by soloist Viktoria Leléka. The group was founded in Berlin, Germany, in 2016, and comprises German and Ukrainian musicians alongside the vocalist. The band has released three studio albums and two EPs, winning prestigious awards, including the Creole Global Music Contest in 2017 and the Best Young European Band award at the Burghausen Jazz Festival in 2018. In 2020, the band composed and produced the music for the Ukrainian historical series “There will be people”. The band continued to create and gain acclaim, even securing the “Band of the Year” award in 2021 at the Deutscher Jazzpreis.
Song Lyrics
Ridnym
Green into rust
Trust in the change
Everything fades be that as it may
Red into dust
Cut from the branch
Leaves in the flames
Nothing is safe
Vyshiu vyshiu
Vyshiu novu doliu
Vyshiu vyshiu ridnym
Nairidnishym
When we oppose our fears
And turn all our woes to cheers
I know the roots still carry water
When all the seeds we’ve sown
Blossom and lead us home
We’ll see the trees grow even taller
Novu doliu vyshiu
Ridnym Nairidnishym
When we oppose our fears
And turn all our woes to cheers
We’ll see the trees grow even taller-o-o-o
When we oppose our fears
And turn all our woes to cheers
I know the roots still carry water
When all the seeds we’ve sown
Blossom and lead us home
We’ll see the treeѕ grow even tаller
The song deals with human resilience, hope, and renewal in the face of a reality of destruction and painful change. The lyrics describe a situation where things fade and vanish (“Green into rust”, “Leaves in the flames”), yet they emphasize that even when it seems all is lost, “the roots still carry water” – a metaphor for a deep connection to the past, tradition, and the inner strength that continues to nourish life even in hard times. The Ukrainian part speaks of “embroidering a new fate,” a symbol of actively creating a better future.
The central message is that precisely through confronting fear and turning pain into joy, one can grow to new heights and lead the way home, just like trees that grow taller after the storm.
In the performance, Victoria is seen wearing a white dress and black chains. Behind her, images from the natural world are projected – initially a flower drying up, spreading its pollen and evolving, and during the climax featuring high-pitched vocals, a new flower blooms in yellow, casting its color over the entire stage.
Ukraine at Eurovision: Huge Success and an Impressive Record
Ukraine, together with Sweden, is among the two most successful countries in Eurovision in the 21st century. The country has won the competition three times – in 2004 with Ruslana and her song “Wild Dances”, in 2016 with Jamala and her song “1944”, and in 2022 with Kalush Orchestra and their song “Stefania”. In addition, Ukraine has finished twice in second place (2007 & 2008) and twice in third place (2013 & 2024) — and has never missed a Eurovision final, holding this distinction alongside Luxembourg, which returned to the contest in 2024.
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 the televoting and 14th in the juries.
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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Maor Heumann has been writing about the Eurovision Song Contest and following it for over three decades. He has attended five contests and has found something to appreciate in almost every possible musical genre — from the sugary pop entries that finish last in the semi-finals to the quirky avant-garde pieces that even the competition’s juries struggled to connect with. He usually prefers original languages and songs with depth over Swedish-produced English clones — though he doesn’t promise to stick to that rule.
He grew up on the kibbutz of Sara’le Sharon, who instilled in him a love for music and created his first connection to the contest back in 1993 — before most of the current editorial team was even born.
