Ukraine’s national broadcaster Suspilne has officially announced the longlist for Vidbir 2026, the national selection to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna.
Here’s everything we know so far — and why this longlist already feels like one of the most exciting yet.
The 15 artists chosen for the longlist (out of 392 submitting acts, representing 451 song entries).
Those on the longlist are:
ANSTAY
Jerry Heil
Karyotype
KHAYAT
LAUD
LELÉKA
MOLODI
MON FIA
Monokate
Mr. Vel
OKS
The Elliens
Valeriya Force
Marta Адамчук
ЩукаРиба
What Happens Next: Auditions & Finalists
Live Auditions: The longlisted artists will be called for live auditions. This is mandatory. Selection of Finalists: From the auditions, nine acts will be selected for the Vidbir final. Wildcard via Public Vote: Among the remaining longlisters who didn’t make it via audition, one more finalist will be chosen through an online ranking vote. Final Show: The final is scheduled for February 2026, where the winner will be determined by 50% public vote and 50% jury.
Notable Returnees
The 2026 longlist features several familiar faces from previous Vidbirs and Eurovision:
Jerry Heil — competed in Vidbir 2020 and 2023, and represented Ukraine in Eurovision 2024.
KHAYAT — has been in Vidbir before (2019, 2020, 2025)
LAUD — veteran of Vidbir (2018, 2019)
MOLODI — Vidbir 2024.
Monokate — Participated at Eurovision 2021 (as Go-A member).
The Elliens — includes Olena Usenko, who represented Ukraine at Junior Eurovision 2021.
Submission Volume & Significance
Submission Figures: Suspilne received 451 entries from 392 acts — 313 solo artists and 79 groups. Producer: Jamala (winner of Eurovision 2016) is the music producer of Vidbir 2026 and will oversee the audition process. Selection Integrity: The mix of long-time returnees and newer names suggests a thoughtful balance between seasoned artists and rising talent.
The Vidbir 2026 longlist is a strong, diverse, and emotionally charged lineup. It feels like Suspilne is setting the stage for a national selection with real artistic ambition — not just a contest, but a story. For Eurovision fans, this is a moment to watch closely: we might be seeing some of Ukraine’s most compelling voices competing for Vienna.
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