Lithuania goes big for Eurovision 2026: Eurovizija.LT reveals 40 ambitious contenders and unveils a revamped format
Lithuania has decided that “playing it safe” is officially cancelled. The national broadcaster LRT has just unveiled the 40 competing acts for Eurovizija.LT 2026, its powerful new selection process to choose the country’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna.
Even more interesting: the entire competition is getting a structural glow-up, from a brand-new voting system to a historic final inside Vilnius’ Twinsbet Arena — the first time an arena in the capital will host the Lithuanian final.
Filming begins on 14 January, with five to six semi-finals planned. The winner will be crowned on 27 February, and unlike previous years, there will be no superfinal. One decisive round. No safety net. No second chance.
Meet the 40 artists competing in Eurovizija.LT 2026
Here are the contenders, all aiming for that single ticket to Vienna:
- Agata Ray – “Gravity lies”
- Agnė Buškevičiūtė – “Unbound”
- Aika – “Raga”
- Aistė Pilvelytė – “Tarp žvaigždžių tylos”
- Akire – “Šiluma”
- Atikin – “Deganti žemelė”
- Aurimas Papečkys – “Tu mano”
- Black Biceps – “Let me cook”
- Dagna – “Sau meluojam”
- Elizabeth Olshey – “Between”
- Emi Acidic – “u broke me”
- Freya Alley – “No Kiss Goodbye”
- Grete – “Parade”
- Hansanova – “Lumina”
- Il Senso – “Brave enough”
- Jokūbas Jankauskas – “Shine”
- Jonas Vilimas – “Unshakable”
- Juozas Martin – “Atmerk akis”
- Justė Osh – “Gaisras”
- Ledi Ais – “Mes siekiam žvaigždžių”
- Lion Ceccah – “Sólo quiero más”
- Lokytė – “Vilko akių”
- Lolita Zero – “Salve im meum mundum”
- Matas Ligeika – “Svetimi”
- Melanija – “The offering”
- Mėnulio Fazė – “Dabar ir čia”
- More – “Taip lengvai”
- Noy – “Stand up”
- Nøra Blu – “Hold my own”
- Patricija Luščynska – “Worth it”
- Paulè – “Sako”
- Rug!le – “Ikona Žemaitė”
- Selene Ice – “Nessuno”
- SHWR – “Contact”
- Siga – “Noriu jo”
- The Ditties – “Mambo”
- Theyla LeRoy – “Oblivion”
- Thomas G – “One night lover”
- Valdas Lacko – “Pabandom”
- Vilnius Voices – “Grįšim”
A mix of pop, alternative, folk, electronic, experimental and “what even is that?” — exactly how a national final should be.
Familiar names return, but nostalgia won’t save them
Among the list are some well-known faces from previous editions:
- Lolita Zero, runner-up in 2022
- SHWR, runner-up in 2024
- Lion Ceccah, runner-up in 2025
They’re back for another shot, but this time there’s no superfinal to soften the blow. Just a single decisive vote combining jury + public opinion. Either you hit, or you’re history.
A new format, new rules, no mercy
LRT has confirmed several key changes:
- A wildcard round will save one third-placed act from each semi-final, selected via online voting
- The superfinal is gone — the winner will be decided in one round only
- Online voting will now be used in every live show
- Telephone voting is officially scrapped
Translation: it’s faster, colder and much more strategic.
Vilnius steps into the spotlight
The grand final will be held at the Twinsbet Arena in Vilnius, an obvious signal that Lithuania wants a bigger, bolder stage presence heading into Eurovision 2026. No more small studio vibes — this is a full-scale national event now.
Whoever wins on 27 February will go on to represent Lithuania at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Vienna in May 2026.
Source: LTR
