Ukrainian Representative Leléka to Perform at Eurovision 2026 in Second Semi-Final

The organizers of Eurovision 2026, one of the most popular music competitions in the world, have officially announced the performance order for the semi-finals, which are set to take place on May 12 and 14. This year, Ukraine will be represented by singer Leléka, who will perform on the main stage of the competition in the second semi-final, taking the 12th slot with her song 'Ridnym.'

The first semi-final, scheduled for May 12, will feature countries performing in a predetermined order as announced by the organizers. Among the participants in this semi-final will be Italy and Germany, who automatically qualify for the final due to their membership in the 'Big Five' — a group of countries whose public broadcasters make the largest financial contributions to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The second semi-final, planned for May 14, promises to be equally thrilling. In addition to Ukraine, countries that will progress to the final include France, Austria, and the United Kingdom. It is important to note that Spain, which is also part of the Big Five, will not be participating in this year’s competition.

Last year, immediately following the conclusion of Eurovision, RTVE, the Spanish public broadcaster, called for a review of the voting system used in the contest. They expressed concerns that 'military conflicts' could influence voting outcomes, potentially leading to a 'loss of the cultural essence of the ceremony.' These comments sparked discussions among participating countries.

In July 2025, Spain again proposed revising the voting system, specifically suggesting the exclusion of Israel from the competition due to the ongoing war in Gaza. This proposal received support from the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Belgium; however, Germany and Austria, which will host the contest in 2026, opposed this initiative.

In December 2025, the European Broadcasting Union decided to allow Israel to participate in the contest in 2026. This decision sparked outrage among several countries, resulting in Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia announcing a boycott of the competition.

At the end of February 2026, RTVE President José Pablo López proposed discussing within the European Broadcasting Union the possibility of banning countries at war from participating in the contest. He stated that changes need to be made to the EBU's charter to prevent the potential use of Eurovision as a platform for political messages or international legitimization during wartime. While López did not name specific countries, it is evident that he was referring to Ukraine and Israel.

Spain remains a part of the Big Five — a group of countries whose broadcasters make the largest financial contributions to the EBU. Representatives of this group, which also includes France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, automatically qualify for the final of the competition. Thus, Eurovision 2026 is set to be not only a musical event but also a political one, having sparked considerable controversy and discussion among participating countries.