Leléka

Intro

Viktoriia Kornikova, known on stage as Leléka (often written as Viktoria Leléka), is a Ukrainian singer, composer and songwriter based in Berlin. On 7 February 2026, she won Vidbir 2026 and became Ukraine’s Eurovision Song Contest 2026 representative. She will sing “Ridnym” in Vienna.

Early life and first steps on stage

Leléka was born on 10 November 1990 in Pershotravensk (now Shakhtarske) in Ukraine. From childhood, she wanted to work in the arts. She also saw singing as a way to help people emotionally.

However, she first trained as an actress. She studied performing arts and acting at the Karpenko-Karyi Theatre University in Kyiv. During her studies, she worked at the Molodyi (Young) Theatre and played small roles in stage productions. This theatre background later helped her build strong storytelling in music.

Move to Germany and music education

In 2014, she moved to Germany and focused fully on music. She studied at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden. There, she earned a degree in jazz vocals and later completed a master’s degree in composition.

Meanwhile, she shaped a sound that mixes jazz freedom with Ukrainian melody. She also developed her skills as a composer. Later on, this mix of singing and writing became important for her next big step.

Leléka band: folk jazz, awards and albums

In spring 2016, she founded the music project LELÉKA in Berlin. The name means “stork”, a Ukrainian folk symbol linked with love, luck and family happiness. She built the band with international jazz musicians, and she placed Ukrainian folk songs at the centre of the sound.

Soon, the group started to win prizes. They won the Creole Global Music Contest (2017) and the European Jazz Award Burghausen (2018). After that, they took second place at the Munich Jazz Prize (2019). As a result, Leléka built a strong reputation on the European jazz scene.

Step by step, releases followed. The group shared an EP in 2017, then released Tuman in 2019. Later, they released Sonce u Serci in 2021. The band also received industry recognition, including a German Jazz Award (Deutscher Jazzpreis) nomination for “Band of the Year” linked to Sonce u Serci. In addition, Leléka wrote and produced music for the Ukrainian TV series And There Will Be People.

Recent work before Eurovision

In the last few years, Leléka kept expanding her catalogue and themes. She released Rizdvo in 2023, which explores Ukrainian Christmas music. After that, she released Kolysanky in 2025, an album inspired by traditional Ukrainian lullabies.

At the same time, she continued to tour and perform widely in Europe. Her official band biography highlights concerts and festivals across many countries, while keeping Ukrainian cultural roots at the heart of the project.

Eurovision 2026: “Ridnym” and the Vidbir win

In February 2026, Leléka competed in Vidbir 2026, Ukraine’s national final for Eurovision. She performed “Ridnym”. Leléka earned the maximum points from both the jury and the public. Therefore, she won the show and secured Ukraine’s ticket to Vienna.

In reporting around Vidbir, Leléka explained that she built “Ridnym” from musical ideas she already had. She connected the song with memory, closeness and rebuilding hope. Now she brings her mix of emotion, vocal control and Ukrainian identity to the Eurovision stage in 2026.