Ukraine advances to the 2026 Eurovision final: Singer LELÉKA conquers the stage in Vienna

[60442] Ukraine advances to the 2026 Eurovision final: Singer LELÉKA conquers the stage in Vienna

Ukraine advances to the 2026 Eurovision final: Singer LELÉKA conquers the stage in Vienna

Following a powerful performance in the second semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, singer LELÉKA advanced to the Grand Final, which will be held on Saturday, May 16. As reported by agencies such as Suspilne, Ukraine continues its streak of success and maintains its status as a country that has never failed to qualify for the final stage.

The singer performed the song "Ridnym" under number 12. According to a description on Suspilne, the song combines elements of folk-jazz, electronics, and bandura sounds, and tells about "changes, accepting fear, and moving forward." The performance received significant resonance, with Novyny.LIVE noting that the singer performed a prolonged 30-second note that was praised as a new record in the history of the contest.

Channel 24 covered the progress of events, including the opening of voting lines for viewers outside of Ukraine. In reports by UA Stream, it was highlighted that at the end of her performance, LELÉKA chose to present the "symbol gesture" – forming the Tryzub (Ukraine's emblem) with her hand, a step that received extensive attention on social media.

The reactions among Ukrainian media outlets were very positive. BBC News Ukraine and LIGA.net emphasized the importance of Ukraine as an independent cultural player on the international stage. The pro-Ukrainian channel Труха⚡️Україна celebrated the achievement, while media outlets such as Ukrinform and hromadske noted the tense and emotional atmosphere surrounding the Ukrainian delegation in light of the security situation in their country.