LELÉKA has reached the final: Ukraine continues to compete at Eurovision 2026

On Thursday, 14 May 2026, the second semi-final of “Eurovision 2026” took place. It was in this show that Ukraine’s representative LELÉKA competed for a place in the grand final with the song “Ridnym”. As with the first semi-final, voting opened immediately after all participants had performed. According to the viewers’ vote, Ukraine secured a spot in the contest’s final.

The following advanced to the final from the second semi-final:

• Bulgaria;
• Ukraine;
• Norway;
• Australia;
• Romania;
• Malta;
• Cyprus;
• Albania;
• Denmark;
• Czech Republic.

Meanwhile, the following countries were eliminated after the second semi-final:

• Azerbaijan;
• Luxembourg;
• Armenia;
• Switzerland;
• Latvia.

LELÉKA took the stage in the 12th slot with the composition “Ridnym”. Even before the contest, the song drew listeners’ attention with its tenderness and emotional depth. The Ukrainian artist’s performance began with a walk along a white catwalk to bandurist Yaroslav Dzhus. In this way the team emphasized the Ukrainian folk instrument and its authentic sound. One of the main emotional moments of the staging was the climax featuring a long high note that LELÉKA performed at the end of the act.

For the stage the artist chose a white look with black accents. Because of this, viewers compared her to a stork. The singer performed in a white dress over pants, and the multilayered fabric elements moved with her and enhanced the drama of the number. The audience’s attention was especially drawn to the finale of the staging, when the light costume gradually changed to a red color reminiscent of a theatre curtain. The emotional performance by LELÉKA left the audience moved and earned Ukraine the coveted place in the “Eurovision 2026” final.

After the two semi-finals, the list of countries that advanced to the final is as follows:

• Greece;
• Finland;
• Belgium;
• Sweden;
• Moldova;
• Israel;
• Serbia;
• Croatia;
• Lithuania;
• Poland;
• Bulgaria;
• Ukraine;
• Norway;
• Australia;
• Romania;
• Malta;
• Cyprus;
• Albania;
• Denmark;
• Czech Republic.

The grand final of “Eurovision 2026” will take place on 16 May in Vienna.

Reminder, earlier we wrote:

• Pre-recorded show, live victory: LELÉKA – Ukraine’s representative at Eurovision
• Rain didn’t stop karaoke on Soborna: the day’s leader was young Mykolaiv resident Alisa Pekera
• Olivia Tkachyk heads for the stars: Matviivka will be heard across the country
• Young artists from Mykolaiv entered the top 10 participants of the National Selection for Junior Eurovision 2024
• Mykolaiv representative Anastasia Bielibova will perform in the final of the National Selection for Junior Eurovision