In the spotlight: Käärijä

JIVA will represent Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. The Azerbaijani broadcaster İctimai Television announced the news on Friday 6 March. With that decision, Azerbaijan has chosen its act for the country’s 18th Eurovision participation since its debut in 2008. JIVA will perform in the first half of the second semi-final on Thursday 14 May. The selection process was extensive. A total of 186 songs were submitted to the broadcaster. Of those entries, 107 came from local composers and performers, while 79 were sent in by international songwriters. After an initial review by a professional panel, 18 candidates were invited to audition. Their vocal abilities, stage presence and international potential were then assessed. In the end, three artists remained on the shortlist. A specially formed focus group made the final decision and selected JIVA as Azerbaijan’s representative. JIVA is the stage name of Jamila Hashimova. According to Eurovision’s official announcement, she is known for strong vocals and sincere live performances. Her career started in 2003, when she finished second in the Baku Autumn competition. In 2007, she also took part in the Show Time project. Over the years, JIVA worked with the RAST ensemble, led by Rashad Hashimov, and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Later, she became the lead vocalist of Hazz Band, where she mixed jazz influences with contemporary pop. Since 2017, JIVA has continued as a solo artist. She records pop, dance and R&B songs in Azerbaijani, Russian and English. In 2025, she won The Voice of Azerbaijan as part of Roya Aykhan’s team. Eurovision fans may also remember her from 2011, when she reached the top three of Azerbaijan’s national selection. For now, Azerbaijan’s Eurovision 2026 story starts with the announcement of JIVA. She now has the chance to step onto Eurovision’s stage.