11-year-old Erika Kolesnichenko from Bila Tserkva will represent Ukraine at the international Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The young girl won the final of the National Selection, which took place on September 26, 2026, and is now preparing for her performance in Malta, where the international final will be held on October 24. The Ukrainian delegation, accompanied by the singer, flew from Kyiv to Malta on October 16, and her first stage rehearsal is scheduled for October 19.
Path to Victory: How Erika Won the National Selection
Six young artists competed for the right to represent Ukraine at the international contest. The winner was determined by a combined vote of the jury and viewers, who could support their favorites through the Diia app. A total of 77,686 Ukrainians participated in the voting. According to Focus, Erika Kolesnichenko and Zlata Solonenko scored the same number of points, but Erika won because she received more viewer votes. At the National Selection, the girl performed the song "NE kolyiskova", written by singer and music producer of the selection Svitlana Tarabarova. It is worth noting that the National Selection final was postponed from September 13 to September 26 due to worsening security conditions, and its format was adapted to account for enhanced safety measures for participants and the team.
The Song "NOT A LULLABY": Musical, K-Pop, and Self-Belief
For the international contest, the song received the English title "NOT A LULLABY". The track combines elements of a musical and K-pop, and its main idea is belief in one's own strength and the courage to fulfill dreams. As Svitlana Tarabarova explained, in the lyrics Erika sings about how life is often neither a dream nor a fairy tale, and if you want to achieve your dreams, it is important to act and not be afraid. Erika has been taking vocal lessons since the age of six, is a first-prize winner of an international vocal competition in Lithuania, and has earned numerous top awards at national festivals. The girl is also passionate about theater and has already played the roles of Cruella, Maleficent, Mary Poppins, and Moana.
Stage Production: Pink Costume and Plastique
The organizers have revealed the first details of the Ukrainian staging. A bright pink costume, created by stylist Oleksandr Hrekov, was prepared for Erika. The look was complemented by voluminous sleeves and ruffles on the trousers to emphasize the dynamics of the performance. Directors Lesia Podolianko and Illia Osiedlyi are working on the stage production. According to them, the team had only two days to develop the concept of the number due to the shortened preparation time following the National Selection. Choreography and the artists' physical expression will play a special role in the performance, becoming part of the scenic narrative.
The Malta Final: 16 Countries, New Prime Time, and Running Order
The international final of the contest will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in Malta. The venue will be the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in the town of Ta' Qali. Malta earned the right to host the contest after France declined to host the event. This year, representatives from 16 countries aged 9 to 14 will participate in the competition. According to the draw, the Ukrainian representative will perform at position 11. The organizers also changed the start time of the final: while Junior Eurovision was traditionally held in the afternoon, this year the show will start at 22:00 Kyiv time. This decision was made by the European Broadcasting Union so that the broadcast would fall into the evening prime time in most European countries and attract more young viewers.
How to Watch and Vote for Erika
In Ukraine, the final can be watched on the Suspilne Kultura TV channel, its official website, and the official Junior Eurovision website. Viewers will be able to support Erika Kolesnichenko during the online voting on the contest's official website. The voting will take place in two stages: the first will start on October 24 at 00:59 Kyiv time and run until 21:59, concluding just a minute before the final begins. The second stage will open after all participants have performed and will last about 15 minutes. Voting is free. Unlike the adult Eurovision, the rules of the junior contest allow voting for the representative of one's own country.
Context: Ukraine Has Been Fighting for Its First Victory Since 2012
In 2025, Sofia Nersesian represented Ukraine at Junior Eurovision with the song "Motanka". She placed second in the competition, losing to French representative Lou Deleuze, who won with the song "Ce monde". This victory marked France's fourth in the history of Junior Eurovision. This year, Erika Kolesnichenko will try to bring Ukraine its first victory at the contest since 2012.
