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.
As always, Ukraine will once again step onto the Eurovision stage with the aim of maintaining its outstanding track record, having always qualified for the Grand Final. On this occasion, the Ukrainian entry is led by LELÉKA with her song “Ridnym”. The singer achieved victory at Vidbir 2026, receiving the highest scores from both the professional jury and the televote.
How has she reached Eurovision? What experience does she have in the music industry? How is she preparing her entry for Vienna 2026?
On this occasion, we review the musical career of LELÉKA, the context of her candidacy, and her song. The Ukrainian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will attempt to take her country to the top of the scoreboard with “Ridnym”, in what will be Ukraine’s 22nd participation in the European contest.
LELÉKA, a multicultural project with Ukrainian essence created by Viktoria Leléka
LELÉKA is a Ukrainian folk-jazz musical project founded in 2016 in Berlin by singer and composer Viktoria Leléka. Born in 1990 in Shajtarske (Ukraine), the artist grew up connected to the performing arts, training in acting at the National University of Theatre, Film and Television of Kyiv. After working as an actress at the Molodyi Theatre, she moved to Germany, where she expanded her training in jazz singing and composition at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden, thus consolidating her international artistic profile.
The group is made up of musicians from different European countries: Swedish pianist Povel Widestrand, Polish bassist Thomas Kolarczyk, and German drummer Jakob Hegner. They all met in Germany and share a musical vision that fuses contemporary jazz with Ukrainian folk roots. From their beginnings, LELÉKA has focused on reinterpreting traditional songs with a modern approach, incorporating electronic elements and innovative arrangements.
The project began to gain recognition after winning first prize at the Creole – Global Music Contest in Berlin in 2017. Throughout their career, they have accumulated various awards, such as the European Jazz Award at Jazzwoche Burghausen, and have performed at numerous international festivals. Their discography includes several notable works, from their self-titled debut EP to albums such as Sonce u Serci, nominated for the Deutscher Jazzpreis, Rizdvo (2023), and Kolysanky (2025), where they further develop their sonic identity.
LELÉKA’s music is characterized by the combination of traditional melodies, jazz harmonies, and a highly expressive voice that has been particularly praised by critics. Their artistic proposal seeks to revitalize Ukrainian cultural heritage from a contemporary perspective, connecting with diverse audiences.
Their major media breakthrough came in 2026, when Viktoria Leléka won Vidbir, the Ukrainian Eurovision preselection, with the song «Ridnym» thanks to the unanimous support of both the jury and the public.
This is “Ridnym”, the proposal by LELÉKA to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2026
LELÉKA representa aUcrania en el Festival de Eurovisión 2026 con el tema «Ridnym» (Nativo). La propiaViktoria Leléka junto a Adama Cefalu, Jakob Hegner y Yaroslav Dzhus son los autores de la propuesta ucraniana.
«Ridnym» es una canción en inglés y ucraniano que relata el cambio constante y la transformación de la vida. Las alusiones constantes a la naturaleza reflejan que todo es pasajero y nada permanece intacto. Sin embargo, no trata de ofrecer un mensaje pesimista, sino que se centra en la renovación y esperanza.
La referencia a las raíces que aún llevan agua y a las semillas que florecen sugiere que, incluso en momentos difíciles, existe una fuerza interna que nos permite crecer y reconstruirnos. Enfrentar los miedos y transformar el dolor en algo positivo.
Lyrics
English & Ukrainian
Green into rust,
Trust in the change
Everything fades be that as it may
Red into dust
Cut from the branch
Leaves in the flames
Nothing is safe
Vyshyu, vyshyu
Vyshyu novu dolyu
Vyshyu, vyshyu
Nayridnishym
When we oppose our fears
And turn all our woes to cheers
I know the roots still carry water
When all the seeds we’ve sown
Blossom and lead us home
We’ll see the trees grow even taller
Novy dolyu vyshyu
Ridnym nayridnishym
When we oppose our fears
And turn all our woes to cheers
We’ll see the trees grow even taller-o-o-o
When we oppose our fears
And turn all our woes to cheers
I know the roots still carry water
When all the seeds we’ve sown
Blossom and lead us home
We’ll see the trees grow even taller
English
Green into rust,
Trust in the change
Everything fades be as it may
Red into dust
Cut from the branch
Leaves in the flames
Nothing is safe
Stiching, stitching
I will stitch together a new destiny
I will stitch, I will stitch, for my kin,
My dearest ones
When we oppose our fears
And turn all our woes to cheers
I know the roots still carry water
When all the seeds we’ve sown
Blossom and lead us home
We’ll see the trees grow even taller
I will stitch a new destiny
For my kin, my dearest ones
When we oppose our fears
And turn all our woes to cheers
We’ll see the trees grow even taller-o-o-o
When we oppose our fears
And turn all our woes to cheers
I know the roots still carry water
When all the seeds we’ve sown
Blossom and lead us home
We’ll see the trees grow even taller
Ukraine at Eurovision: A Quick History
Ukraine debuted in Eurovision in 2003 and has since become one of the most successful countries in the contest. Its first victory came in 2004 with Ruslana and «Wild Dances», and it later added two more wins with Jamala in 2016 and Kalush Orchestra in 2022.
It is the only country that has always managed to qualify for the final. In addition to its victories, it has accumulated several second and third places that reinforce its consistency at the top of the scoreboard. In 2023, Tvorchi finished 6th with «Heart of Steel». In 2025, Ziferblat achieved 9th place with a highly visual and contemporary artistic proposal, maintaining the country’s tendency to frequently place within the Top 10.