Singing for Ukraine in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is Ukrainian-German folk jazz band Leléka.
Founded by Ukrainian singer and songwriter Viktoria Leléka in the spring of 2016 in Berlin, Leléka are representing her country in the final of this year’s competition which takes place in the Austrian city of Vienna on Saturday night (May 16).
Leléka was selected by Ukraine’s Eurovision body, Suspilne, after winning the contest known as Vidbir. Ukraine made it through the second semi-final during the week and will be performing sixth in the final.
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The group’s lead singer, Victoria, is a singer and songwriter who graduated from the Karpenko-Karyi Theatre University in Kyiv. She initially went on to work as an actress at the Molodyi Theatre in the Ukrainian capital.
Once a member of Leléka, Victoria continued her studies by obtaining a master’s degree in jazz composition in Dresden and studying film composition at the Babelsberg Film University. Bringing her love of film to the band, Leléka scored the popular series And There Will Be People.
The band has been praised for fusing Ukrainian tradition, contemporary sound and a distinct authorial interpretation. The name Leléka means ‘stork’, with the band emphasising the importance of finding your way home.
(Image: Getty Images)
Ukraine are heading into the event with a small chance of lifting the glass microphone trophy, with their odds of winning 50/1 ahead of the show, according to bookies Ladbrokes.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final takes place on Saturday, May 16. It will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer with Graham Norton hosting and commentating for UK viewers. On BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, Sara Cox and Rylan will be leading the commentary. Coverage across the BBC will start at 8pm.
The lyrics in full for Ridnym (translations in bold)
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
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
Novy dolyu vyshyu
Ridnym nayridnishym
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