After missing the party in Vienna, Ukraine’s National Television Company (NTU) has confirmed the nation’s return to Eurovision in 2016. Now the land of angels and shady ladies has announced some new information regarding the country’s selection process — including some very important dates.
The two semi-finals will take place on 6 and 13 February, followed by the national final on 21 February. All three shows will be broadcast at 19:00 EET (that’s 17:00 GMT, 18:00 CET) on two Ukrainian channels — UA Pershyi and STB. Well-known composer and author Konstantin Meladze will produce the national selection program.
Open auditions were held around Ukraine in December, with applicants also having the option of submitting a video audition. The open audition phase is reaching its conclusion, but submissions are still open until January 20th for those last minute applicants!
Ukraine at Eurovision
Prior to their withdrawal from the 2015 contest, Ukraine was one of the most consistent countries at Eurovision, always qualifying for the Grand Final. They have finished in the Top Three four times in twelve attempts, including their 2004 victory with Ruslana’s “Wild Dances”. Their most recent entry was Mariya Yaremchuk’s “Tick-Tock” in 2014, which placed sixth.
Anastasia Prikhodko — she who aged three generations in three minutes for Russia in 2009 — already declared her interest in representing Ukraine. The former Russian representative is among the divas we’d like to see representing her homeland.
Are you excited about Ukraine’s return to the Eurovision stage and the Ukrainian national final? Who would you like to see flying the Ukrainian flag to Stockholm? Let us know in the comments below!
Great news, always look forward to Ukraine and they’re one of the four countries I think have the best chance of winning. Hope this doesn’t dissapoint.
I have high hopes for Ukraine.
this is gonna be really interesting….