In Ukraine, the first stage of public voting for the winner of the National Selection for Junior Eurovision 2026 opened on September 24 at 10:00. Voting takes place in the state Diia app and will continue until the morning of September 26 — right before the final show. Users aged 14 and over can cast their vote, and at stake is the right to represent Ukraine at the international contest, which this year will be held in Malta.

How to vote in Diia: step-by-step instructions

The voting mechanics this year have been simplified to the maximum and are tied to the state's unified digital ecosystem. To support one of the six finalists, you need to open the Diia app, go to the "Services" section, select the "Poll" item, and mark the performer you like. Only users who are already 14 years old can vote — this is the age threshold set by the organizers. The first stage of voting will close on September 26 at 10:00, meaning viewers will have just under two days to make up their minds before the final broadcast begins.

Two stages of public voting

Unlike a number of previous years, in 2026 the public voting is split into two independent stages. The first, as already noted, takes place in Diia from September 24 at 10:00 to September 26 at 10:00. The second stage will take place during the final show itself: voting will open before the first participant's performance and close after the last one's number. The hosts will announce the start and end of voting on air, so viewers who did not manage to vote online will be given an additional chance to do so live.

Jury composition and final format

The final of the National Selection for Junior Eurovision 2026 will take place on September 26 at 19:00. The winner will be determined by the combined results of the jury and the public — each side will have exactly 50% weight. This year's jury includes musician and composer Dmytro Shurov (Pianoбой), singer SKYLERR, as well as radio host and radio producer Anna Sviridova. It is this trio, together with the public's votes, that will decide which of the six finalists will go on to represent Ukraine in Malta.

The tradition of Junior Eurovision for Ukraine

Junior Eurovision has long become a distinct musical tradition for Ukraine: young artists compete annually not only for victory in the national selection but also for the chance to represent the country on the international stage. Ukraine has been taking part in the contest since 2006, and it won its first victory in 2012 — back then the country was represented by Anastasiia Petryk with the song "Sky". The current final once again brings together six young performers with different musical styles and songs, and on September 26 the name of Ukraine's new representative will be revealed.

Where the international contest will be held

Junior Eurovision 2026 will be held in Malta. It is there that the winner of the Ukrainian National Selection will travel to compete for the top prize of the children's music contest as part of the delegation of participating countries. For Ukraine, participation in the Maltese contest will be a continuation of the country's long history in Junior Eurovision, which began in 2006.