Culture Fix editor Andrew had the pleasure of chatting with Ukrainian artist KHAYAT about his return to Ukraine’s national selection and music contest, Vidbir. KHAYAT has impressed in previous years with entries such as Call For Love and Honor, and now returns with his 2026 entry, Hertsy.
In our chat, KHAYAT delves into the excitement of being chosen as a wildcard entry for the national selection and ultimately winning the public vote to become the contest’s tenth finalist. He explores why he feels this is his most mature entry to date and explains how visuals play a vital role in his creative process.
KHAYAT also reflects on his previous Vidbir entries, exploring his career journey during that time, and opens up about his favourite Ukrainian Eurovision entries. He discusses the discovery of his musical identity and the adversity he faced when initially pursuing his passion for music.
The musician also explores the challenges currently facing Ukraine and the best ways the international community can support the country at this time.
Huge thanks to KHAYAT for taking the time to chat with us. He will take to the Vidbir stage on 7 February 2026.
Follow KHAYAT: YouTube, Instagram and Telegram
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