Eurovision 2026: Meet Cyprus' Antigoni and her song Jalla

We profile the 2026 entry from Cyprus including details on the artist, song, how it was chosen, odds, fan reaction and how the nation has fared at Eurovision.

Cyprus made their debut in the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1981 with Island performing Μόνικα finishing in 6th place.

Over the decades the Island of Love has managed to reach fifth place three times at Eurovision: firstly in 1982 with Anna Vissi’s Μόνο η αγάπη, secondly in 1997 with Hara & Andreas Constantinou Μάνα μου, and then again in 2004 with Lisa Andreas’ power ballad Stronger Every Minute.

It wouldn’t be until 2018 when Cyprus would get its best ever result when Eleni Foureira stormed the Contest with her runner-up placed epic banger Fuego.

Since 2015, Cyprus has managed to qualify for the Eurovision Final every year except for 2022 and 2025.

Recently the small island nation was represented by Australian artists with Cypriot roots, Andrew Lambrou in 2023 and Silia Kapsis in 2024.

In 2026, Cyprus will be represented by Antigoni, who will be hoping to get Cyprus back in the Grand Final with her energetic song Jalla.

2026 Entry: Antigoni - Jalla

• Antigoni will perform 8th in the running order in semi-final 2

• My Eurovision Scoreboard ranking: 5th

• Odds to win ranking: 11th

(Rankings as of 18 April 2026)

About the artist

Antigoni, whose last name is Buxton, was born and raised in North London, and has Greek Cypriot roots.

In 2022 she competed on the eighth season of the British version of Love Island. However she was one of the first contestants "dumped" from the program.

Antigoni has released many hit songs, they include You Can Have Him, Sleeping Alone and Habibi.

She often showcases her Cypriot heritage by incorporating traditional Cypriot instrumentation through her music, mixing it with more contemporary genres.

About the song

Jalla is, at its core, a celebration of energy, identity, and cultural pride wrapped in a high-impact pop package.

The title itself is key to understanding the song’s meaning — Jalla comes from the Cypriot dialect and translates roughly to “more” or “again,” which immediately sets up the song’s central idea of craving more from life, from music, and from shared experiences.

Antigoni herself has described the track as being about “energy, passion, and striving for more in life,” which gives it a motivational undercurrent beneath the surface-level fun.

Musically and culturally, Jalla is also a strong statement of Cypriot identity. The song blends contemporary pop production with traditional elements — including references to dances like tsifteteli and Mediterranean instrumentation — creating a fusion that feels both modern and rooted in heritage.

How Antigoni was chosen for Eurovision?

This year the Cypriot broadcaster CyBC opted for an internally selected artist with Cypriot roots.

Antigoni was revealed as the Cypriot Eurovision artist in November 2025 making her first artist reveal of the Eurovision 2026 season.

Cyprus will compete in the second semi-final of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest on 14 May 2026 in Vienna.

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