The search for Ukraine’s next Eurovision contestant has begun, with the longlist for Vidbir 2025 being revealed.
Up to ten acts to compete in Vidbir 2025
In a statement released on their website, Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne announced the twenty acts that remain in contention to represent the nation. Of these twenty, as many as ten will advance to the televised national final.
The acts announced on the longlist are:
| BRYKULETS |
| ENLEO |
| FIЇNKA |
| Future Culture |
| GRISANA |
| KHAYAT |
| KRYLATA |
| MOLODI |
| MON FIA |
| Ranrawi |
| Starykova Hrystyna |
| TESLENKO |
| YAGODY |
| Ziferblat |
| Абіє |
| ДК Енергетик |
| Маша Кондратенко |
| МУАЯД |
| Слухай Сашу |
| Влад Шериф |
Among the returnees are FIЇNKA, KHAYAT, YAGODY and Ziferblat. These acts have previously competed in Vidbir previously, with the remaining sixteen all new entrants. In total, 369 applications to represent Ukraine at Eurovision were made.
Auditions will now be held to thin the number of selected acts down to at most nine. Broadcaster Suspilne will announce the acts that have advanced to the televised selection in due course. Similar to last year, a public vote will be held to determine the last finalist, with Ukrainians voting for their favourite online.
Variety in submissions
Speaking about the announcement, music producer for Vidbir 2025, Tina Karol, said there was great variety in submitted songs.
Today, the longlist of participants in the National Selection for Eurovision-2025 is being presented! 20 performers from almost 400 submitted applications have made it.
The artists of the longlist are a new musical showcase, the main feature of which is quality and relevance. All participants are talented, self-sufficient and bright. I am very grateful to everyone who submitted applications!
I would like to note that I was very disappointed, because many strong songs did not make it to the list of participants due to non-compliance with the rules of Vidbir 2025. Namely: they were published or performed earlier, were longer than three minutes, had parts of someone else’s poems or offensive language. My advice: if the song has not been published before, please refine it and submit your application next year.
No date has yet been set for the upcoming edition of Vidbir 2025. However, the broadcaster has confirmed the final will be held in February.
Ukraine’s Eurovision journey
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. The country has scored nine top-five placements, with an extra four top-ten finishes. Ukraine won the Contest three times – in 2004, 2016 and 2022 respectively. Ukraine made history for being the first ex-Soviet country to win the Contest more than once.
In 2024, alyona alyona and Jerry Heil represented Ukraine in Malmö with their song “Teresa and Maria”. The duo finished in 3rd place, scoring 453 points – of which 146 points came from the jury, whilst the remaining 307 points came from the televote.
What do you make of the longlist for Vidbir 2025? Who do you think could represent Ukraine in Basel? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, Tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2025!
News Source: Suspilne Media
Photo Credit: Suspilne Media
Giwrgos Oiko