Ukraine’s national broadcaster Suspilne has confirmed that Olya Polyakova’s challenge to the rules of Vidbir 2026 has been quashed. This comes despite no artist being publicly announced to have been in the running to represent Ukraine next year.
Challenges from Olya Polyakova
Explaining the position on an Instagram post, Suspilne explained that they had received an appeal from Olya Polyakova on October 16th. The appeal called for a change in the rules for Vidbir 2026 to allow for artists who had performed in occupied territory to compete to include more Ukrainian artists.
She said in a letter addressed to the broadcaster, as reported in UNN:
I sincerely believe in a fair, modern, and European selection. But the rules must evolve with the country. We have all changed – our culture, our society, and our values.
Therefore, it is important that every artist who lives, works, and creates in Ukraine has an equal right to represent our state on the international stage.
Suspilne’s response
In its response, Suspilne said that it cannot allow acts who have performed in either Crimea or the occupied regions of Ukraine after 2014 to take part in the competition. This has since been extended to cover Belarus after its involvement in the invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, 2022. As a result, Olya Polyakova has had her appeal quashed.
The full statement reads:
On October 16, Suspilne received an appeal from Olga Polyakova regarding changing the rules of the National Selection for the Eurovision Song Contest without specifying what exactly is proposed to be changed.
Suspilne determines, approves and publishes on the official website of the Eurovision Song Contest the rules of the national selection, which cannot be changed after its start. Their goal is to ensure the proper organization of the selection and the participation of its winner as a representative of Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Suspilne bears responsibility to society, takes into account the realities of wartime and considers it unacceptable to represent Ukraine by artists who conducted concert activities on the territory of an aggressor state, in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and/or on other occupied territory of Ukraine after March 15, 2014 and on the territory of the Republic of Belarus after February 24, 2022. The Public Service Commission’s duty is to act in the interests of society, maintain independence, and protect trust in transparent national selection rules.
Preparations continue for Vidbir 2026
In the meantime, preparations remain ongoing for Vidbir 2026, with the winner going on to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2026. Winner of the 2016 Contest Jamala has been chosen as the musical director for the selection. Meanwhile, German Nenov has been elected to be the creative director of the selection. The final of the selection process will take place on an undetermined date in February 2026.
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 2025, Ziferblat represented Ukraine in Basel with their song “Bird of Pray”. The band finished in 9th place, scoring 218 points – of which 60 points came from the jury, whilst the remaining 158 points came from the televote.
What do you make of Olya Polyakova’s challenge? Do you think Suspilne did the right thing? 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 2026!
News Source: Suspilne / UNN
Photo Credit: Olya Polyakova
Tetiana Viznytsia 
Tim J 
Euan T