Singer Leleka to Represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2026

Singer Leleka, who has become the face of Ukraine at the 70th International Eurovision Song Contest 2026, recorded a video message for the official Eurovision social media account. In this video, she shared three important aspects of her life that she believes will interest the international audience of Eurovision fans.

In her video, Leleka greeted viewers by saying, "Hello. This is Leleka, and here are three interesting facts about me." The first fact she shared was about her beloved dog named Sonyk. The singer noted that she loves her four-legged friend very much, explaining that his name means "the one who loves to sleep." Leleka revealed that she adopted Sonyk last year and misses him dearly, as she cannot be with him at the moment.

The second fact was about the bandura, one of the most cherished traditional Ukrainian musical instruments. Leleka emphasized that this instrument is featured in her Eurovision song, which she refers to as the "Ukrainian harp." This highlights the deep roots of the singer in Ukrainian culture and her desire to present this culture on an international stage.

The third fact shared by Leleka was about her diary. She explained that this diary helps her clear her thoughts, organize them, and release her emotions. One of the thoughts she recorded in her diary recently, which she decided to share, was: "Popularity imposes the necessity to meet the expectations of others, but now as an artist, as a true artist, more than anything I want to meet my own expectations." This quote reflects Leleka's deep feelings and awareness of her role in music and society.

Leleka will represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2026 with her song "Ridnym," which won the National Selection. Both the jury and the audience unanimously rated her performance, awarding her the maximum score of 10. This indicates a high level of support and recognition of her talent among the Ukrainian audience.

This year's Eurovision contest will take place in the capital of Austria, Vienna, thanks to singer JJ's victory with the song "Wasted Love" at the previous competition. This year, 36 countries will participate in the contest, and according to the draw, Ukraine will perform in the second semifinal during its second half. Eurovision 2026 is scheduled for May, with semifinals taking place on May 12 and 14, and the Grand Final set for May 16. It is at this time that the name of the contest's winner will be revealed.

Thus, singer Leleka not only represents Ukraine on the international stage but also shares a piece of her life and culture, making her participation in the contest even more significant.