Who is Antigoni? Get to Know Cyprus’s Eurovision 2026 entry

The Eurovision Song Contest is heading toward its 70th edition, which will take place in Vienna (Austria) on May 12, 14, and 16 at the Wiener Stadthalle.

Little by little, the participating countries are immersed in preparations to refine the details of their entries with which they will fight to win the coveted glass microphone.

The Eurovision season has also left room for internal selections, such as that of Cyprus, which has opted for an artist with international projection and a very defined identity. The broadcaster CyBC announced Antigoni as its representative for Vienna, trusting in her entry to defend the country’s colors.

How has her evolution within the music industry been? How has she built her style? And what can she bring to Eurovision 2026?

In this edition, we take a look at Antigoni’s musical career, the context of her candidacy, and her song. Cyprus’ representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will defend her entry with “JALLA,” a song that reflects both her artistic personality and her cultural roots, in what will be Cyprus’ 44th participation.

This is Antigoni, a childhood between London and Cypriot culture

Antigoni is a British-Cypriot singer and songwriter born on 9 March 1996 in London, who has built her musical career through a very personal combination of contemporary British pop and Mediterranean influences. Raised in North London, she grew up in an environment where Cypriot culture was always very present, something that has shaped both her sound and her artistic identity.

From an early age she showed an interest in music: she started playing the guitar as a child and during her teenage years she was already writing her own songs. Her education included institutions such as the American School in London and later BIMM, where she specialised in songwriting and artistic development.

After an early attempt in the industry with a major record label that did not fully work out due to creative differences, Antigoni chose to follow her own path, developing a distinctive style that she has described as “med-pop”, a blend of contemporary sounds and Mediterranean roots.

From 2020 onwards she began to consolidate her career with the release of her first EP, “A1”, followed by new singles and collaborations that allowed her to grow on digital platforms. Her popularity took a major leap in 2022 after her participation in Love Island UK, which increased her media visibility and opened doors in television, festivals and social media.

In 2023 she released her second EP, “Hexagon”, and in recent years she has continued to explore sounds closer to the Middle East and the Mediterranean with songs such as “Habibi” and “Agapi”.

In November 2025 she was internally selected to represent Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with the song “Jalla”, thus fulfilling one of her major professional and personal goals: bringing her cultural heritage to an international stage.

This is “JALLA”, Antigoni’s entry to represent Cyprus at Eurovision 2026

Antigoni represents Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with “JALLA.” It is a song composed by the artist herself together with Charalambous Kallona, Connor Mullally-Knight, Demetris Nikolaou, Klejdi Lupa, Paris Kalpos, and Trey Qua.

The entry combines contemporary elements with Mediterranean influences, perfectly reflecting the cultural duality that defines her career. The song was presented both in a televised format and live, marking the beginning of her journey to Vienna.

“JALLA” conveys a festive and uninhibited energy, centered on dance as a form of expression and connection. It blends cultural influences, such as tsifteteli and Greek expressions, with a catchy rhythm that invites listeners to let themselves be carried away by the music. The repetitive chorus reinforces that hypnotic and collective atmosphere, almost like a chant of celebration. Overall, the song speaks of freedom, seduction, and the euphoria of losing oneself in the rhythm and the experience.

Lyrics

Cyprus at Eurovision: A Quick History

Cyprus debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 and has participated almost continuously since then. For decades it achieved modest results, although it secured several Top 10 placements in the 1990s and early 2000s. Its best result came in 2018 with Eleni Foureira and “Fuego”, which reached 2nd place with 436 points, becoming one of the most iconic performances of the festival in recent years.

Since then, the country has maintained a strategy focused on international pop and artists with regional projection. In 2024, Silia Kapsis finished in 15th place with “Liar”, while in 2025 Theo Evan failed to qualify for the final by a narrow margin, finishing in 11th place with “Shh”.