Eurovision 2026: nine finalists announced — 'Diia' to cast final vote
The titles of the nine songs by the national-selection finalists have been announced. Live presentation on January 15, final — February 7. How digital voting in Diia and the music scene are becoming elements of Ukraine's cultural diplomacy.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
January 7, 2026 · 2 min read
What happened
The public broadcaster reported (writes UNN) that the names of nine songs by the finalists of Ukraine’s national selection for "Eurovision 2026" have become known. A live presentation of the competing songs will take place on January 15 at 7:00 PM at Origin Stage; the tenth finalist will be determined by voting in the "Diia" app. The official national final is scheduled for February 7.
Who advanced to the final
At the live concert the following compositions will be performed: Jerry Heil — "CATHARTICUS (prayer)", LAUD — "Lightkeeper", LELÉKA — "Рідним", MOLODI — "THE LEGENDS", Monokate — "Ти тут", Mr. Vel — "Do Or Done", The Elliens — "Crawling whispers", Valeriya Force — "Open Our Hearts" and ЩукаРиба — "Моя земля". The tenth contestant will be added via voting in Diia.
"During the event everyone present will hear the live performances of the finalists' competing songs for the first time before their release on streaming services, and will also see performances by invited guests. The hosts are Timur Miroshnychenko and Anna Tulieva."
— The public broadcaster
Why it matters
At first glance — it’s a musical selection. But through the prism of the country's interests it is also an instrument of cultural diplomacy and communication: the style, language of the songs and the performances shape perceptions of Ukraine abroad. Moreover, the format of choosing a finalist in Diia is not only convenient for viewers; it signals how the state engages citizens in cultural processes through electronic services during wartime.
Details and schedule
The live presentation — January 15, Origin Stage, starts at 7:00 PM. Hosts of the event — Timur Miroshnychenko and Anna Tulieva. The national final — February 7. The Eurovision 2026 contest will take place in Vienna: semi-finals on May 12 and 14, grand final — May 16 at the Wiener Stadthalle (official information about the venue and dates).
What’s next
The next step is the live presentation and voting: the outcome will determine how the Ukrainian representative enters the international context. Media and music industry experts note that at Eurovision today not only the stage and melody matter, but also the story a song carries. A question to the reader: can the chosen track become a tool for strengthening Ukraine's image in Europe — both culturally and politically?
