Alicja's Eurovision 2026 Presentation
Polish artist Alicja Szemplińska, known mononymously as Alicja, is set to represent her country at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Her entry, titled "Pray," blends gospel, hip-hop, and R&B influences. The singer describes this track as a deeply personal prayer about confronting inner weaknesses and striving for freedom.
As Alicja explained,
“My core message is to fight for your freedom, fight for your rights, fight for your voice, and never give up”.
Alicja's Career and Musical Inspirations
Now 23 years old and hailing from Ciechanów, Poland, Alicja first gained widespread recognition in 2019 by winning the talent show The Voice of Poland. The following year, she secured victory in the Polish national selection "Szansa na Sukces" with the song "Empires," earning the right to represent Poland at Eurovision 2020. However, that contest was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and she was not reselected for Eurovision 2021. In 2023, she attempted a comeback, placing sixth in the national final "Tu bije serce Europy."
Beyond her Eurovision journey, Alicja serves as an ambassador for the Spotify Equal project. A notable detail about "Pray" is that the gospel choir vocals were performed solely by Alicja and her producer, Wera (Weronika Gabrielczyk). The singer also recalls a past experience recording a Polish television program in a church in Lviv, Ukraine, which she says reflects her connection to culture and spirit.
Alicja draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists, including:
- Whitney Houston
- Aretha Franklin
- Beyoncé
- Daniel Caesar
- Mary J. Blige
- Lauryn Hill
- Raye
Her neighbor, who worked at a music school in Ciechanów, predicted her future stardom when she was just 4 or 5 years old.
“Listen, one day she will become a star”- Alicja recalls her neighbor's words.
Alicja's performance at Eurovision 2026 is expected to be vibrant and memorable. Her manager was the first to congratulate her on the news. Meanwhile, she named the Czech Republic's Daniel Žižka as her biggest dark horse in the competition. Ahead of the contest, Alicja encourages:
“Never give up and stay true to yourself. Always fight for yourself and pray!”
Her participation in the milestone 70th Eurovision marks a significant career milestone and reflects her drive for creativity and self-expression.
Alicja's involvement in Eurovision 2026 is not only a personal achievement but also a boost for the Polish music scene, as she introduces innovative musical directions and genre-blending styles. Her work, which fuses different genres, has the potential to attract a broad audience—an important aspect of a competition that unites countries and cultures. Performing on such a major stage could be a pivotal step in her career and elevate the international profile of Polish music.
As Alicja prepares for her performance in Vienna, it's worth noting that she isn't the only artist making waves ahead of the Eurovision 2026. Ukraine's representative, Leleka, has also recently released a captivating cover that showcases her unique musical style, further highlighting the diverse talent this year's contest promises to deliver.