Poland's Eurovision 2026 Entry: Alicja Wins National Selection with 'Pray'

Alicja Triumphs in Poland's 2026 National Final

According to Главком: On March 7th, singer Alicja (Alicja Szemplińska) was declared the winner of Poland's national selection, Finał Krajowych Kwalifikacji 2026, with her song 'Pray'. She will now represent Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. The final was held at TVP's Studio 5 in Warsaw, organized by the national broadcaster Telewizja Polska and hosted by Eurovision commentator Artur Orzech.

The competition featured eight artists, including some notable names:

• Michał Wiśniewski - a Eurovision participant in 2003 and 2006;
• Viki Gabor - the winner of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2019.

The winner was determined entirely by public vote. Online voting via the TVP VOD app ran from February 28th until March 7th, followed by an SMS vote which closed at midnight. The results were officially announced on March 8th during the morning program 'Pytanie na śniadanie'.

Alicja secured victory by capturing nearly a third of all votes, earning her first place. The final top five of the national selection were:

• 1. Alicja – Pray, 32.0% of votes;
• 2. Ola Antoniak – Don't You Try, 18.4%;
• 3. Basia Giewont – Zimna woda, 14.6%;
• 4. Piotr Pręgowski – Parawани tango, 11.5%;
• 5. Stasiek Kukulski – This Too Shall Pass, 9.6%.

Alicja's Path to Victory

The 23-year-old singer from Ciechanów is no stranger to televised music competitions. In 2019, she won the vocal talent show The Voice of Poland, mentored by musicians Tomson and Baron from the band Afromental. The following year, she won the Polish selection 'Szansa na Sukces' with the song 'Empires' and was set to represent Poland at Eurovision 2020, but the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Poland's broadcaster chose not to reselect her for the 2021 contest. In 2023, she placed sixth in the national selection 'Tu bije serce Europy'.

“Alicja's victory in the national selection underscores her growing prominence on the Polish music scene after several attempts to represent the country at Eurovision.”

- Source unknown

Given her previous experience and successes, many fans are hopeful for a strong performance in Vienna, which could bolster Poland's standing in the international competition. Eurovision remains a significant platform for artists seeking wider recognition on the global stage, often launching successful international careers.