At the first rehearsal of Eurovision 2026, singer LELÉKA, who will represent Ukraine this year, demonstrated an image designed by designer Lilia Litkovska.
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When creating the outfit, the LITKOVSKA team turned to its own Artisanal line, a sustainable demi-couture direction built on preserving traditional Ukrainian weaving crafts and reinterpreting them through modern form. “This costume is about confession. I wanted the viewer to see how the dress grows through the song, where each element is a personal symbol woven into the fabric of the performance. The stork wing here is not accidental: it is a visualization of the artist's inner will and a reminder of how powerful our natural energy is when we allow ourselves to straighten our shoulders,” shares Liliya Litkovska.
Liliya Litkovska
The central element of the image is a braided corset made of eight types of fabrics, mostly natural: silk, viscose, silk organza. It took about 20 meters of materials and more than a week of manual work by seamstresses, craftsmen, and embroiderers to create it. The motif of ribbons, familiar in traditions throughout Europe, works here as a point of intersection of cultures.
Liliya Litkovska worked on the costume together with the artist, drawing inspiration from her identity and music. The connection with the pseudonym LELÉKA is felt in the silhouette and movement, without a literal depiction of a bird. The elongated lines and descending elements create a sense of flight, leaving a trace in space – like the trajectory of a bird in the air. “I was inspired by the depth of Victoria's universe and the strength of her personality. This is a true collaboration, where the artist's creativity becomes the starting point – when each line of the costume interacts with her inner rhythm,” comments Liliya Litkovska.
The costume of bandurist Yaroslav Dzhusya refers to the role that the musician played back in the Cossack era: the keeper of memory, the voice of the community. The basis was a plakhta with hand-embroidered beads; woven fabric was also used in creating the image. Liliya Litkovska worked on the stylistic solution of the image in collaboration with stylist Margarita Shekel.
As a reminder, Ukraine will perform in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 on May 14 at number 12. The final of the competition will take place on May 16.
Photo: Corinne Cumming, Alma-Bengtsson/EBU, Marta Larionova.