Croatia's Eurovision 2026 contestants have recorded a cover of Ruslana's winning hit "Wild Dances"
The Croatian female folk-pop group Lelek, which will represent Croatia at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with the song “Andromeda,” has recorded a cover of the iconic hit “Wild Dances.”
The video appeared on the contest’s official pages and quickly caught viewers’ attention, sparking a wave of nostalgia for Ukraine’s performance at Eurovision 2004, when Ruslana brought victory to Ukraine.
In their version, Lelek preserved the ethnic foundation of the composition, adding their own sound and harmonious vocals. Notably, the Croatian performers also sang the Ukrainian lines that appeared at the end of the song.
Ruslana highlighted the cover on social media, noting that the band captured the atmosphere and energy of the original composition. The singer emphasized the natural Ukrainian pronunciation and the spirit of the Carpathians, which is evident in the performance.
Ukraine’s representative at this year’s contest, Leleka (song “Ridnym”), also gave the cover a thumbs-up and noted that she is looking forward to meeting the Croatian band on stage.
Leleka won the Croatian national selection for Eurovision 2026, in which 16 performers participated. The results were determined by a mixed system: 50% of the votes from viewers, 25% from Croatian juries in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, and Osijek, and 25% from international juries in San Marino, Luxembourg, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
On March 11, all participants in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2026, which will take place on May 14 in Vienna, were announced. The Ukrainian band Leleka will compete for a spot in the contest’s final alongside strong rivals.
Eurovision 2026: Participants in the first semifinal in Vienna have been announced.
As a reminder, Leleka has updated their song for Eurovision.
It has also been announced who will represent the Czech Republic, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, and San Marino at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.
