Alicja Szemplińska

Personal Background

Alicja Szemplińska is a Polish singer and songwriter. She was born on 29 April 2002 in Ciechanów, Poland.  As a child, she took singing lessons at a local community centre and sang in a church choir. Moreover, by the time she was 12 years old, Alicja had begun taking professional vocal training to hone her talent. These early experiences, combined with diverse musical influences from pop and soul, helped shape her powerful and emotive singing style. 

Career Beginnings

In 2016, Alicja’s talent shone when she won the TVP2 talent show Hit, Hit, Hurra!. This victory earned her vocal training with renowned coach Seth Riggs (famously known for training Michael Jackson) as part of her prize. Furthermore, in 2019 she competed on The Voice of Poland and won the tenth season of the show. As a result of this triumph, she signed a contract with Universal Music Polska and released her debut single “Prawie my” (meaning “Almost Us”). Notably, the music video for “Prawie my” surpassed one million views within 10 days of its release. Alicja’s early success in these competitions marked the beginning of a promising music career in her late teens.

Public Work and Media Appearances

Beyond music contests, Alicja remained active in Poland’s entertainment scene. She has performed at various televised music events and festivals, maintaining a strong public presence. For example, in November 2020 she made a guest appearance singing “Empires” during the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020 final held in Warsaw. Additionally, in 2022 Alicja expanded her repertoire by hosting a radio show called 21 grams of soul on Newonce.radio, showcasing her versatility beyond singing.  In 2023, she even lent her voice to “Stick Together,” the official song of the Men’s Handball World Championship, demonstrating her broad reach beyond the pop music world. 

Key Career Milestones

Notably, Alicja is one of the few Polish artists to win three major TV talent competitions before turning 20. These victories include Hit, Hit, Hurra! in 2016, The Voice of Poland in 2019, and Szansa na Sukces – Eurowizja 2020 (the national selection for Eurovision 2020) in early 2020. Furthermore, her musical journey features numerous singles and a successful debut studio album titled Nie wracam, released in 2024. The release of this album marked a significant milestone in her career, establishing Alicja as a recording artist with a growing discography. By her early twenties, she had become a well-known figure in Polish pop music. She is recognized for her rich voice and the achievements she amassed at a young age. 

Eurovision 2020 – Cancelled Participation

In February 2020, Alicja earned the honor of being selected to represent Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. She won the national selection show Szansa na Sukces – Eurowizja 2020 with the powerful ballad “Empires,” securing her ticket to the Eurovision stage in Rotterdam. However, the contest was canceled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This cancellation meant that Alicja’s much-anticipated Eurovision debut never took place. Poland’s broadcaster did not internally reselect her for the following year, so her Eurovision journey was put on hold after 2020. Despite this disappointment, Alicja continued to write, record, and perform new music in the ensuing years. She remained determined and kept her Eurovision ambitions alive, patiently waiting for another chance to showcase her talent on the international stage.

Eurovision 2026 – National Selection and Song

In 2026, Alicja finally returned to the Eurovision spotlight. She participated in Poland’s national selection again and won with her original song “Pray”. This victory secured her spot as Poland’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, to be held in Vienna. For Alicja, it is a long-awaited debut. Six years after her first opportunity, she will finally perform on the Eurovision stage. Notably, “Pray” was co-written by Alicja herself, reflecting her growth as a songwriter and artist.