UkraineattheEurovisionSongContestin12Facts

Did you know that the Eurovision Song Contest is one of the world’s biggest music shows? It is broadcast across 5 continents and receives the attention of up to 200 million viewers. The show is beloved and anticipated in many countries, and Ukraine is no exception.

Ukraine has a long and successful Eurovision history, and some Ukrainian artist have undoubtedly left a long-lasting mark with their performances. In 2024, this tradition is about to be continued by alyona alyona & Jerry Heil, a collaboration of two unique artists, with the song “Teresa & Maria”.

While we are looking forward to their performance at the final on May 11, let’s check out the top-12 key facts about Ukraine at this music contest.

1. Ukraine debuted at Eurovision in 2003 and has participated in the contest 19 times since then.

2. Ukraine is also the only country that has qualified for the Eurovision Grand Final every single time it competed.

How many times did Ukraine win Eurovision?

3. Ukraine has won Eurovision three times. In 2004, Ruslana’s energetic performance of “Wild Dances” captivated the audience. In 2016, Jamala’s emotive rendition of “1944” took first place. And most recently, in 2022, Kalush Orchestra won with the song “Stefania” devoted to mothers.

4. After the first two victories, Ukraine hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv – in 2005 and 2017. In 2023, the country should have hosted the show for the third time, but the ongoing Russian invasion has made it temporarily impossible. Therefore, the United Kingdom hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine.

5. If not with the first place, Ukraine still often ends up on top: the country has received top-5 final results 8 times in total.

6. Ukraine won Eurovision in 2016, though Jamala came only 2nd in the semi-final. Australia won the semi-final then but finished 2nd in the Grand Final. 

7. Ukraine changes the Eurovision history for other countries as well. Portugal, for example, had to participate 49 (!) times before the first victory in 2017 in Kyiv.

8. Ukraine has received three Marcel Bezençon Artistic Awards (2004, 2008, 2016) for the best artist, according to commentators, one Press Award (2007), and one Barbara Dex Award. The last is a fan award for the «worst dressed artist». Can you guess who got that honour?

9. Ukraine contributes to the Eurovision language landscape. Ruslana (2004) was the first to include Ukrainian lines in her song, and Jamala (2016) sang partially in Crimean Tatar. In 2021, Ukraine was represented by Go-A with the song «Shum», fully in Ukrainian for the first time ever.

10. The following year, “Stefania” by Kalush Orchestra became the first song in the Ukrainian language to win Eurovision.

After their performance in the Grand Final, the band’s frontman Oleh Psiuk addressed the global community with “Help Ukraine, Mariupol, help Azovstal! Right now!”, urging to help Ukrainian defenders at the Azovstal in Mariupol, besieged by Russian forces at that time.

11. “Heart of Steel”, representing Ukraine in 2023, continues this narrative in a way. The song is about resilient, unbreakable people who keep moving despite difficulties. It was written by TVORCHI in the spring of 2022 when Ukrainian defenders were heroically standing at Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol.

The word “steel” has become one of the symbols of Ukrainian resilience, which TVORCHI translated into their music, merging deep meanings and modern sound.

Who will represent Ukraine in Eurovision 2024?

12. In 2024, alyona alyona & Jerry Heil represent Ukraine at the Eurovision stage. Their song “Teresa & Maria”, written mostly in Ukrainian, conveys a message about the power of women and unity; it also acts as a reminder that everybody can achieve great things.

Сomplemented by strong voices and incredible staging by Tanu Muino, the performance already made it to the Grand Final and has a good chance to add to the great history of Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest.