“I believe I can win”: despite financial difficulties and a vocal injury she has faced, Ukraine’s representative for Eurovision 2026, Leléka, reveals new details about her planned performance on the big stage.
With less than two months to go, the Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria is getting closer. Today (Sunday), deeply worrying news emerged for Ukraine: Leléka, the country’s representative with the song “Ridnym”, suffered damage to her vocal cords and experienced a loss of voice since performing her Eurovision entry at a concert held on February 16th in Kyiv. Will she be able to deliver her song properly on stage in Vienna?
In an interview published on Ukraine’s official Eurovision YouTube page, Ukraine’s representative, Leléka, shares her growing excitement ahead of her performance at Eurovision 2026. This comes after, about two weeks ago, she revealed that she was struggling to find sponsors and was forced to finance her participation herself, and that she had also suffered a serious vocal injury that raised concerns she might not be able to perform her song properly in the prestigious contest. Now, she reflects on the path she has taken since the selection process, the importance of the song to her, and whether she will take the stage in Vienna, Austria, with the same performance she presented in the Ukrainian “Vidbir”.
From Fragmentation to Wholeness
In the interview, Leléka looks back on the road she has taken in preparing for Eurovision and describes an intensive, fast-paced creative process for her performance in “Vidbir 2026”. However, she admits that the performance did not meet her expectations and that many parts of it require significant improvement. At the same time, she emphasizes that the experience made her stronger, and that despite the criticism of the song, she is determined to remain true to herself, her voice, and her artistic vision — and to arrive better prepared and stronger on the big stage.
After Leléka revealed that she has been dealing in recent days with severe financial difficulties that raised concerns they could lead to a dramatic withdrawal of Ukraine from Eurovision, the singer now says that she will not let financial problems stop her and confirms that she will indeed perform at Eurovision 2026, but announces that her Eurovision performance will be different from the one she presented in the Ukrainian national selection. The only detail she revealed about the final performance in Vienna is the concept and general idea:
“From fragmentation and disintegration to wholeness, that is the central line, whether in terms of meaning or in terms of visuals”.
In addition, she states in the interview that she believes in the song’s potential to succeed and quickly said that she is convinced she can win the contest. Currently, Ukraine is in ninth place in the betting odds with only about 3% winning chances.
In the same interview, she describes the creation process of the song “Ridnym” and speaks in detail about the importance of translating the song from Ukrainian into English, stressing that it is important for the song’s message to be understood by audiences across Europe and around the world. The song’s central message is that by confronting fear and turning pain into joy, one can grow to new heights, much like trees that grow taller after the storm.
LELÉKA – Who Are You?
Leléka, whose full name is Viktoria Leléka, is a Ukrainian folk‑jazz singer. She leads a Ukrainian‑German ensemble of the same name, Leléka, with which she has released three studio albums and two EPs. The ensemble has received prestigious awards, including the Creole Global Music Contest in 2017, and the prize for Best Young European Band at the Burghausen Jazz Festival in 2018. In 2020, the ensemble created and produced the music for the Ukrainian historical television series “There will be people”. The group has continued to create and gain recognition, and in 2021 it won the “Band of the Year” award at the Deutscher Jazzpreis festival.
Ukraine at Eurovision 2026
“Ridnym” is the title of the song to be performed by Leléka, representing Ukraine at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria, in the second half of the second semi-final, which will be held on May 14th. The song was written by Viktoria Leléka, who also performs it, together with Adama Cefalu.
The main message of the song is that precisely through confronting fear and transforming pain into joy, people can grow to new heights and lead the way home, much like trees that rise even higher after the storm.
Currently, Ukraine is ranked 9th in the betting tables ahead of Eurovision 2026.
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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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.
