Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026
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Cyprus was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with the song "Jalla", written by Antigoni Buxton, Charalambous Kallona, Connor Mullally-Knight, Demetris Nikolaou, Klejdi Lupa, Paris Kalpos and Trey Qua, and performed by Antigoni herself. The Cypriot participating broadcaster, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC), internally selected its entry for the contest.
Cyprus- Artist: 6 November 2025
- Song: 8 February 2026
| Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 2026 | ||||
| Participating broadcaster | Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) | |||
| Country | Cyprus | |||
| Selection process | Internal selection | |||
| Announcement date |
| |||
| Competing entry | ||||
| Song | "Jalla" | |||
| Artist | Antigoni | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Placement | ||||
| Semi-final result | Qualified (10th, 122 points) | |||
| Final result | 19th, 75 points | |||
| Participation chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
Prior to the 2026 contest, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Cyprus forty-one times since its debut in the 1981 contest.[1] Its best result in the contest was second, achieved in 2018 with "Fuego" performed by Eleni Foureira. Before that, its best placing was fifth, achieved three times: in 1982 with the song "Mono i agapi" performed by Anna Vissi, in 1997 with "Mana mou" performed by Hara and Andreas Constantinou, and in 2004 with "Stronger Every Minute" performed by Lisa Andreas. Its least successful result was last place, achieved in 1986 with "Tora zo" by Elpida, receiving only four points in total; however, its worst finish in terms of points received was when it placed second to last in 1999 with "Tha'ne erotas" by Marlain Angelidou, receiving only two points.[2] After returning to the contest in 2015 following a one-year absence due to the impact of the 2012–2013 Cypriot financial crisis and the broadcaster's budget restrictions,[3] it has failed to qualify on two occasions, including in 2025, with "Shh" performed by Theo Evan.[1]
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, CyBC organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. It had used various methods to select its entry in the past, such as internal selections and televised national finals to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. Since 2016, the broadcaster had opted to select the entry internally without input from the public.
Before Eurovision
Internal selection
On 6 November 2025, CyBC announced that British-Cypriot singer Antigoni would represent Cyprus in Vienna.[4] The selection of Antigoni as the Cypriot entrant consisted of two parts: the first involved the votes of a five-member jury panel from nine potential artists proposed by Greek record labels, and the second involved an online questionnaire posted via the broadcaster's website cybc.cy between 30 October and 6 November 2025, during which the public could express their opinion on the artists and its participation in general.[5][6][7] Prior to the announcement, it was reported that among the other proposed artists were Evangelia, Giorgos Perris, Good Job Nicky, Josephine, Katerina Stikoudi, Mikay, Nina Mazani and Sophia Patsalides (who represented Cyprus in the 2014 junior contest).[8][9][10]
The Cypriot contest song, "Jalla", was written by Antigoni together with Charalambous Kallona, Connor Mullally-Knight, Demetris Nikolaou, Klejdi Lupa, Paris Kalpos and Trey Qua, and was presented to the public on 8 February 2026 during the CyBC evening news broadcast. The official preview video for the song, directed by Bodega Visuals, was released on the same day via the broadcaster's website cybc.cy and the Eurovision Song Contest's official YouTube channel.[11][12]
Promotion
To promote "Jalla" before the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, Buxton performed as an interval act at Sing for Greece 2026, the Greek national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.[13]
At Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 took place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 12 and 14 May and the final on 16 May 2026. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final will progress to the final. On 12 January 2026, an allocation draw was held to determine which of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show, each country will perform in; the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.[14] Cyprus was scheduled for the second half of the second semi-final.[15]