NTU, the Ukrainian national broadcaster has confirmed to ESCtoday that Ukraine will participate in the forthcoming 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, thus the country will return to the competition after a year’s absence.
Eurovision fans will be more than happy to know that Ukraine will be back in the competition next year when the contest travels to Stockholm. Ukraine opted to witdhdraw from Europe’s favorite television event in 2015.
The format Ukraine will use to select its Eurovision entry and act for Stockholm will be disclosed in due course. It is more than likely the country will opt for a national selection in order to select its Eurovision hopeful for Stockholm.
Ukraine is the 29th country to confirm its participation at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest.
The deadline for countries wishing to participate at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest concluded yesterday 15 September, hereafter the applicant countries have a grace period until 10 October to decide wether they are to stay or not in the competition without facing a financial penalty.
The last time Ukraine competed in the Eurovision Song Contest was in 2014 when Maria Yaremchuk achieved a 6th place in the grand final in Copenhagen with her entry Tick tock.
Ukraine debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 and has won the competition once in 2004 with Ruslana‘s Wild Dances. In 2005 Ukraine welcomed Europe in Kiev for the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest.
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries in the contest, having qualified to the final every year since their debut and holds a good record in the competition (8 top 10 results out of their 12 contributions). The country placed 1st in 2oo4 with Ruslana, 2nd in 2007 with Verka Serduchka and in 2008 with Ani Lorak, 3rd in 2013 with Zlata Ognevich, 4th in 2011 with Mika Newton, 6th in 2014 with Mariya Yaremchuk, 7th with Tina Karol in 2006 and 10th with Alyosha in 2010.
The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 10, 12 and 14 May at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
