Rules Breached During National Selection for Eurovision 2026
During the live broadcast of Ukraine's national selection for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, judge Ruslana violated competition regulations by openly campaigning for contestant Leléka. She directly urged viewers to vote for Leléka to represent Ukraine at the 2026 contest in Vienna. While judges are permitted to express personal preferences, the rules explicitly forbid them from actively lobbying for specific participants, a requirement designed to maintain impartiality.
This breach could spark a major controversy, especially if Leléka wins the selection. Other finalists may demand the results be disqualified for contravening European Broadcasting Union (EBU) regulations. A similar incident occurred in 2024 when singer Kateryna Pavlenko was replaced on the jury after publicly supporting the Ukrainian band Ziferblat.
Contestants and Host Voice Complaints
It was reiterated at that time that jury members are prohibited from campaigning for contestants. Separately, contestant Jerry Heil expressed frustration over technical issues during the selection, as her performance was not shown in full. The event was hosted by Lesia Nikitiuk, who reportedly washed her hair under a sink tap in the venue's facilities. The Eurovision selection process is often highly scrutinized, with national juries under significant pressure to remain neutral.
The situation with Ruslana is likely to reignite debates about rule enforcement during national selections and the influential role judges play in shaping contest outcomes.
A judge's rule violation can have serious consequences for the competition, as it undermines trust in the participant selection process. If Leléka wins, it could raise questions about the legitimacy of the results, prompting other contestants to formally challenge them.
This incident underscores the critical importance of strict rule adherence and judicial impartiality in high-stakes competitions like the Eurovision Song Contest.