The search for the next Ukrainian Eurovision representative kicks off this evening with the first semi-final of the country’s national selection! Who will follow in last year’s winner – Jamala’s – footsteps?

How to watch

Semi-final 1 of the Ukrainian national selection begins at 18:00 CET (19:00 local time) and will air on the following channels:

• NTU’s First Channel
• STB
• Live webcast via 1tv.com.ua

A live broadcast will also be available via NTU’s official YouTube channel, which you can watch below!

Tonight’s show

This evening sees the first 8 acts of the national selection present their entries live to the public and jury for the first time. Tonight’s show will be hosted by Sergiy Prytula at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

All of the Ukrainian national selection participants were determined following a number of live auditions around the country, with 1 further act being decided via an online vote.

The competing acts will have to gain votes from both the public and jury, each of whom will have a 50% say in the show results, in which we’ll see the top acts qualify to the final of the selection.

Ukraine’s national selection jury will consist of 3 members:

• Konstantin Meladze: Composer and producer
• Andriy Danylko: Ukraine’s 2007 representative as Verka Serduchka
• Jamala: Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016

Semi-final 1 participants

1. SKAI – All my love for you
2. Roma Veremeychik & Lumiere – Make it real
3. Monochromea – Blue bird
4. Laliko Electro Swing Project – Sugar whisper
5. Salto Nazad – Mamo
6. MamaRika – We are one
7. Tayanna – I love you
8. Arsen Mirzoyan – Geraldine

The top acts will compete in the Grand Final of the Ukrainian national selection on the 25 February, in which a combined public and jury vote will determine the country’s next representative at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.

National selection schedule

• 04/02: Semi-final 1
• 11/02: Semi-final 2
• 18/02: Semi-final 3
• 25/02: Grand Final