The Eurovision Song Contest is heading towards 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 compete to win the coveted glass microphone.
The Eurovision season has brought a wide variety of entries, and among them stands out Poland, which has opted for a proposal with a strong artistic identity. The broadcaster TVP selected its representative through its national selection process, where Alicja Szemplińska managed to win with her entry “Pray”, securing her ticket to Vienna.
How has her journey to Eurovision been? What lies behind her musical proposal? How has she built a unique identity within the current music scene?
On this occasion, we review the musical career of ALICJA, the context of her candidacy, and her song. The Polish representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will attempt to take her country to the Grand Final with “Pray”, an entry that reflects her artistic evolution and musical sensitivity on stage, in what will be Poland’s 28th participation in the European contest.
This is ALICJA, origins and first steps in music
Alicja Szemplińska, born on 29 April 2002 in Ciechanów, is a Polish singer who has stood out from a very young age for her powerful voice and artistic sensitivity. She grew up in an environment that nurtured her talent, as her teachers encouraged her to take part in school performances and local festivals. In addition, her time in a church choir allowed her to gain stage experience and develop her vocal technique from childhood. At just 12 years old she began formal musical training, taking her first steps toward a professional career.
Her first major breakthrough came in 2016 when she won the program Hit, Hit, Hurray!, which gave her visibility and the opportunity to train with Seth Riggs, a renowned vocal coach of international artists. This period proved key in refining her technique and better understanding the music industry.
In 2019 she rose to national fame by winning The Voice of Poland, becoming, at 17 years old, the youngest winner of the format. This victory opened the doors to Universal Music Polska and led to her first single, “Prawie my”, which achieved millions of views.
Her musical style is deeply influenced by genres such as soul, blues and gospel. Over time, she has also incorporated elements of R&B and pop, creating a personal sound marked by emotion and authenticity.
In 2020 she won the national selection Szansa na Sukces – Eurowizja 2020 with “Empires”, which allowed her to represent Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, ultimately cancelled due to the pandemic. Despite this setback, she continued developing her career with numerous releases and projects.
In 2024 she released her first album, “Nie wracam”. Finally, in 2026 she succeeded in representing her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with “Pray”, thus closing a cycle that began years earlier and reaffirming herself as a solid artist within the Polish music scene.
This is “Pray”, the proposal by ALICJA to represent Poland at Eurovision 2026
ALICJA represents Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with the song “Pray”. The entry has been composed by the artist herself together with Sinclair Alan Malcolm and Weronika Gabryelczyk.
“Pray”, a song entirely in English, conveys a mix of inner struggle, ambition, and the search for redemption. On one hand, the protagonist expresses a deep desire for freedom and to find a “missing piece”, suggesting emotional or spiritual emptiness with the need for guidance, forgiveness, or strength in the midst of confusion. However, it also offers a positive and empowered vision, in which she manages to take control, leave behind those who do not contribute, and pursue success, staying firm, finding balance, and moving forward.
Lyrics
English
Freedom just
Freedom, freedom
Won’t you give it all to me
Lay down all my struggle
And give back the missing piece,
the missing piece of me
Lord are you giving up on me
Cos I’m not giving up on me
Thought you would forgive all my sins
You told me to pray
Gotta just pray
Pretty girls rock
I’ve been on my shit now it’s pretty on top
You ain’t my loss
Step down
Take five
Now I’m the boss
Imma go
Move fast
Take this style
Take this class
Make that money
When you run with me
Told me go shake that ass
Take that off
Two steps back
Why it always feel the same
Someone come get me out of here
Get me out of here,
Guess I gotta fight
Till nobody can hurt, yeh
In my era
No more errors so stay outta my way
Dropping all them number ones
With white gloves on my hand
Honey I’m trying to stay
Where the sky ends
Paving my own ways
With one important phrase
Pray!
Pray!
Pray!
Pray!
I think u need a sip holy water mhm
Don’t want no problems with my mothers daughter, ey
Now I guess I’m taking over
Scared!
Trickery ain’t nothing new
Front page of your news
There ain’t nothing you can’t do
Nothing you can do
In my era
No more errors so stay outta my way
Dropping all them number ones
With white gloves on my hand
Honey I’m trying to stay
Where the sky ends
Paving my own ways
With one important phrase
Pray!
Pray!
Pray!
Pray!
Poland at Eurovision: A Quick History
Poland debuted in Eurovision in 1994 with a strong start thanks to Edyta Górniak and «To Nie Ja!», which achieved a historic 2nd place.
Despite that debut, the country has had an irregular trajectory, with several absences in different periods and few notable results afterwards. Its only additional Top 10 in the early years came in 2003 with Ich Troje, who finished 7th. In the recent era, it has alternated between qualifications and eliminations, with Ochman’s 12th place in 2022 standing as one of its best recent results.
In 2025, Justyna Steczkowska returned to the contest with a sophisticated and highly polished vocal and staging proposal, achieving 14th place with 156 points and consolidating a solid result within the mid-table.