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 leaves us with many striking names and, among them, Georgia stands out in particular, having opted for a candidacy with a symbolic weight rarely seen within the festival. The Georgian public broadcaster has decided to bring back a group that forms part of the collective Eurovision memory: Bzikebi, confirming their return to the musical forefront.
How has their journey been since that unexpected childhood victory? What path have its members followed until this moment? And what can we expect from their proposal for Vienna 2026?
In this edition, we take a look at Bzikebi’s musical career, the context of their candidacy, and their song. Georgia’s representatives at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will try to climb to the top of the ranking with “On Replay,” in what will be Georgia’s 19th participation in the European contest.
This Is Bzikebi, the Unconventional Georgian Group That Made Junior Eurovision History
Bzikebi, whose name means “wasps” in Georgian, is a musical group formed in Tbilisi in 2008 by Giorgi Shiolashvili, Mariam Tatulashvili, and Mariam Kikuashvili. Unlike other formations, their origin was not spontaneous but the result of a strategic decision by the Georgian public broadcaster, which brought together three young talents with the aim of representing the country in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008.
The group’s debut was directly linked to this contest, where they participated with “Bzz..”, an original entry based on invented sounds and an insect-inspired aesthetic. Their performance, with a strong theatrical component, broke away from the usual patterns of the competition. The result was a historic victory that gave Georgia its first win in Junior Eurovision and turned Bzikebi into an immediate phenomenon. After this success, the group gained great popularity in Georgia, especially among children’s audiences. They released the album Zabuzei and appeared in numerous television programs and live performances, consolidating their presence in the local music scene. However, over time, the group’s activity decreased as its members grew older and took different paths.
In the following years, the most visible career was that of Giorgi Shiolashvili, who continued his musical training, specializing in piano and participating in various artistic projects. His development included studies at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire and an international period at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. He also expanded his training into disciplines such as organ and jazz singing, continuing his studies in Sweden. Meanwhile, Mariam Tatulashvili and Mariam Kikuashvili maintained a more discreet profile, largely away from public life, although still informally connected to music.
The legacy of Bzikebi remained alive in Georgia, even with the creation of the Bzikebi Studio, a children’s music school that trained new generations of artists. The group made a brief return in 2022 at a commemorative Junior Eurovision event.
This is “On Replay,” Bzikebi’s entry to represent Georgia at Eurovision 2026
Bzikebi will represent Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with the song “On Replay.” The entry was composed by the iconic Georgian songwriter Giorgi “Giga” Kukhianidze, who has been responsible for countless Georgian songs at Junior Eurovision.
With its choice of Giga Kukhianidze as producer, Georgia hopes to replicate the great successes the composer has achieved at Junior Eurovision, including several victories. The most recent was in 2024 with Andria Putkaradze. The nods to Junior Eurovision also come from Lizi Japaridze “Lizi-Pop,” the Georgian representative in 2014 and one of the presenters of the 2017 edition, who wrote the lyrics for the song.
The song conveys a sense of freedom, intensity, and emotional connection in the present moment. It speaks of stopping overthinking and surrendering to the experience, whether it be a relationship, music, or nightlife, symbolized by neon lights and uncontrolled energy. It also suggests something authentic and unrepeatable, like an emotion or bond that cannot be copied or explained, only felt. The chorus reflects the desire for that moment to be repeated again and again.
Lyrics
English
Lights on
Stand by
Unmasked, you and I
Step left
Step right
Neon Lights, they ignite
Na, na, na, na, na, na we go wild, oh my
Shameless, we tear it up, don’t ask why
Don’t, think, let, go
Keep me on replay, okay
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Keep me on replay, okay
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Keep me on replay, okay
La, la, la light it up
We go high-low, high-low
Ta, ta, ta take it over, feel it in your soul
Can’t digitise our thunder
No code, no clone
Don’t, think, let, go
Keep me on replay, okay
la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Keep me on replay, okay
la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Keep me on replay, okay
Take my hand, don’t disappear
This is real, this is clear
Not afraid of the trial
Stay with me a little while
We don’t wait in line for miracles
We jump in, we tear the veil
Right here right now
No maybe
No void that can take me
Yeah, yeah, we rise and fall and rise again
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Keep me on replay, okay
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Keep me on replay, okay
Georgia at Eurovision: A Quick History
Georgia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 with Sopho Khalvashi. Since then, it has participated almost continuously, except in 2009, when it was disqualified for political reasons. Its best results came in 2010 and 2011, reaching 9th place. In later years, the country has struggled to qualify for the final, with the standout result being Nina Sublatti’s 11th place and her iconic “Warrior” in 2015.
It has alternated between national finals and internal selections in its choices. After several eliminations, in 2024 it managed to return to the final with a 21st place thanks to Nutsa Buzaladze and her “Firefighter”. In 2025, it once again remained in the semifinals with Mariam Shengelia, finishing 15th in the second semifinal in Basel.