Who is LELÉKA? Meet Ukraine’s Eurovision 2026 entry

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The preparations for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria are progressing quickly. Representing Ukraine with hopes of reaching the final is the artist LELÉKA.

Okay, let’s talk Ukraine at Eurovision. They’ve been competing for twenty years now, and have actually taken home the win three times! But even when they don’t win, they consistently perform incredibly well – their average placement is seventh place, which is seriously impressive. In fact, they made history as the first country to win the contest three times this century. They’re a real force to be reckoned with, and always deliver a strong showing.

Ukraine last won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022. However, because of the current war, the 2023 competition was held in the United Kingdom, as the UK’s Sam Ryder finished second in 2022.

But can Ukraine’s entry this year bring it home another trophy? Read on to find out about LELÉKA.

Who is Ukraine Eurovision 2026 entry LELÉKA?

Instagram: @leleka_music

TikTok: @leleka_music

I first discovered LELÉKA back in 2016, and I’ve been a fan ever since. It’s the project of Viktoria Leleka, who handles the vocals, and she’s joined by an incredibly talented group: Robert Wienröder on piano, Thomas Kolarczyk laying down the bass, and Jakob Hegner on drums. They blend folk and jazz in a way that just really gets to me.

She earned her degree from the Karpenko-Karyi Theatre University in Kyiv and began her career as an actress at Kyiv’s Molodyi Theatre.

She continued her education by earning a Master’s degree in jazz composition in Dresden, Germany, and later studied film composition at the Babelsberg Film University.

In the last decade, she’s put out five albums and composed the music for the hit Ukrainian Amazon Prime show, And There Will Be People.

Leléka won Ukraine’s national selection competition, Vidbir, and will represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest this year.

How old is LELÉKA?

The Ukrainian Eurovision entry Viktoria Leléka is 35 years old.

What nationality is LELÉKA?

Viktoria Leléka is Ukrainian and was born in Shakhtarske, Ukraine.

What has LELÉKA said about representing Ukraine at Eurovision 2026?

LELÉKA feels incredibly proud to represent her country and introduce Ukrainian culture to viewers of Eurovision. She explained that she wants to share the beauty of her heritage through her singing and music, and celebrate the coming together of different cultures.

What is Ukraine’s Eurovision 2026 song called?

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This year at Eurovision, Ukraine will be represented by LELÉKA with their song “Ridnym,” which features both English and Ukrainian lyrics.

Adama Cefalu, Jakob Hegner, Viktoria Leleka, and Yaroslav Dzhus wrote the song as a tribute to Ukraine, focusing on the power of inner resilience.

LELÉKA explained that the song’s central theme is hope – even when things feel completely finished, there’s still a chance. She believes everyone has the inner strength to build a life they truly desire, and that facing your fears is key to personal transformation.

Where did Ukraine come in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?

Ukraine’s Ziferblat finished ninth with 218 points, performing the song “Bird of Pray”.

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As a fan of Eurovision, I’ve seen a lot of debate lately about whether Israel should be allowed to compete this year, given the terrible situation in Gaza. It’s been a really tough topic, and a lot of people have strong feelings about it.

Several countries are choosing not to participate in the contest this year because the organization in charge, the European Broadcasting Union, decided against banning Israel from competing.

In December 2025, the European Broadcasting Union met and voted to create new rules preventing governments or outside groups from unfairly boosting certain songs to sway voting results. However, they did not vote on whether Israel would be allowed to participate in the competition.

The EBU announced that most of its members decided another vote on whether to participate wasn’t necessary. They confirmed that the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will go ahead as scheduled, with extra safety measures added.

After that announcement, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland all stated they would not be competing in Eurovision this year.

Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, has decided not to participate in this year’s contest, stating that it doesn’t feel right considering the tragic loss of life and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which continues to endanger civilians.

The BBC, the UK broadcaster for the competition, has voiced its support for the EBU’s decision. In a statement, the BBC explained that this is about upholding the competition’s rules and ensuring inclusivity.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final will take place on Saturday 16 May 2026.

You can find a complete list of Eurovision winners, and see how many times the United Kingdom has been victorious in the competition.

Authors

Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab, where she oversaw their local teams. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature from the University of Nottingham.

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2026-05-14 09:31