The results of the sixth edition of the 'Zolotiy Lifon-2026' award have been announced in Ukraine. The organizers named the most charismatic and attractive figures in the country's cultural scene. The winner in the main category was musician, journalist, and member of the group 'Hamerman Znischuie Virusy' Albert Tsukrenko.
Unusual format of a people's award
The 'Zolotiy Lifon' award was founded in 2018 as a humorous people's accolade. The project initiators, Anna Arinarkhova and Elena Pavlova, created this ranking to draw attention to Ukrainian cultural figures through a non-standard format. According to the project team, they wanted to become the 'yellow press of a healthy country,' covering the lives of real stars of Ukrainian art.
The idea for the award arose as a sort of response to the traditional objectification of women in beauty contests. Unlike conventional shows, here not only external appearance is evaluated, but also the talent, intelligence, and charisma of the nominees.
Who made it into the ranking
The award participants are representatives of various creative professions: writers, musicians, actors, artists, directors, photographers, and cultural managers. Winners are determined based on the results of a rating vote: the participants themselves compile their own top-10 lists, after which the organizers calculate the total scores.
The list of laureates of 'Zolotiy Lifon-2026' included such well-known personalities as:
- Sergiy Zhadan
- Sviatoslav Vakarchuk
- Max Kidruk
- Les Podervianskyi
- Artem Polezhaka
- Andriy Liubka
- Vitaliy Azhnov
- Alexey Hnatkovskyi
- Sergiy Hnezdilov
- Vladyslav Heraskevych
Also among the winners were Artur Dron, Vasyl Baidak, Oleksa Mann, Illarion Pavliuk, and Vitaliy Zapeka. Notably, one of the nominees, who took sixth place, was 'disqualified' during the ceremony, which added extra intrigue to the project.
Cultural phenomenon
The project, which positions itself as a lifestyle initiative, continues to draw attention to creators, uniting them in a single space. As the organizers note, the goal of the award is to attract attention to Ukrainian artists 'by any means,' turning the cultural process into a living and engaging dialogue.
