Ukraine: ENLEO, FIÏNKA, Khayat and Ziferblat among Vidbir 2025 longlist acts

After almost 400 songs were submitted to Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne, Vidbir 2025‘s producer Tina Karol had the opportunity to handpick a longlist. She chose a total of twenty acts who will audition in Kyiv these days. Among the longlist, we find ENLEO, FIÏNKA and Ziferblat.

Vidbir 2025 will have ten finalists, coming down from eleven last year. Nine of these ten acts will be chosen in the next week and a bit as Suspilne sets out to reveal the finalists by 20 December. A tenth finalist will be determined next month by public voting through the Diia app. 

There are some familiar names on the longlist. FIÏNKA is returning after two years. Those who watched Vidbir in December 2022 will remember her song “Dovbush” that came fourth. Since the Hutsul Ukrainian rapper and singer has become an established name in her genre that combines ethnic music with hip hopo. 

Ziferblat, the band of twin brothers Valentyn and Daniil Leshchynskyi and their drummer Fedir Khodakov, is also on the list. To many, that won’t be a surprise as the three have been campaigning heavily for a return on their TikTok. Last year, Ziferblat finished as a runner-up with their song “Place I Call Home”. 

Meanwhile, ENLEO is a new name to the Eurovision world. The Mariupol-born singer achieved fame in his home country by covering Tom Odell and Hozier, but recently started releasing his own music with success. 

Vidbir 2025 longlist acts

1. BRYKULETS
2. ENLEO
3. FIЇNKA
4. Future Culture
5. GRISANA
6. KHAYAT
7. KRYLATA
8. MOLODI
9. MON FIA
10. Ranrawi
11. Starykova Hrystyna
12. TESLENKO
13. YAGODY
14. Ziferblat
15. Абіє
16. ДК Енергетик
17. Masha Kondratenko
18. МУАЯД
19. Слухай Сашу
20. Влад Шериф

Vidbir 2025 date and format

After a total of ten acts will be selected by January, their songs will be revealed. The song of the eventual wildcard winner, the tenth act determined by Diia app voting, will be released later this December. 

Currently, it seems that the final of Vidbir 2025 will take place on 8 February. If possible, Suspilne will hold a live national final. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian broadcaster will record a backup tape on 7 February. If the safety situation were too fragile, Suspilne will only broadcast the pre-recorded show and the finalists will watch the contest unfold from a safe place like last year.

Like all Vidbirs prior, the show relies on a 50/50 system with regards to jury and public vote. The jury will likely consist of three people, like earlier years. The public will vote through the Diia app, a government app in Ukraine — which means each Ukrainian has one vote. 

The jury will vote during the recording on 7 February. In the case it’s safe enough for Suspilne to hold a live national final, the jury votes from 7 February will be annulled and a new round of voting will take place on 8 February. The public will vote during the broadcast on 8 February in any case.  

Are you happy with the names on the longlist? Who are among your favourites? Let us know in the comments down below!