AZE.US
Azerbaijan will be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 by singer JIVA (Jamila Hashimova), raising fresh expectations that the country could once again compete for the top spot at Europe’s biggest music contest.
According to organizers, JIVA was selected following a multi-stage national selection process that attracted 100 applications and 186 songs from both local and international songwriters.
The contest will take place in Vienna, with semi-finals scheduled for May 12 and May 14, and the grand final on May 16, 2026.
JIVA will perform the song “Just Go” in the first half of the second semi-final on May 14.
A Long Musical Career
JIVA began her musical career in 2003, finishing second in the “Baku Autumn” competition. In 2007 she appeared in the music project Show Time, and in 2011 reached the weekly top three in Azerbaijan’s national Eurovision selection.
Over the years she has performed in several professional music projects. She collaborated with the ensemble RAST, led by People’s Artist Rashad Hashimov, and performed at the internationally known Montreux Jazz Festival.
Later she became a vocalist for Hazz Band, combining jazz influences with modern pop arrangements.
Since 2017, JIVA has pursued a solo career, performing pop, dance and R&B music in Azerbaijani, Russian and English.
The Song “Just Go”
The song “Just Go” was written by U.S.-based Azerbaijani composer Fuad Javadov.
The music video was directed by Farad Ali, while dancer Emin Huseynov plays the main male role in the clip.
Notably, the song includes both English and Azerbaijani lyrics, meaning the Azerbaijani language will once again be heard on the Eurovision stage.
Why Azerbaijan Has Real Chances
Azerbaijan has built one of the strongest records among relatively new Eurovision participants.
The country already won the competition in 2011, when Ell & Nikki took first place with Running Scared at Eurovision Song Contest 2011.
Since debuting in 2008, Azerbaijan has repeatedly reached the final and has become known for high-level staging, strong vocals and international production teams.
This year several factors could work in Azerbaijan’s favor:
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A bilingual performance combining English and Azerbaijani
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Modern pop/dance production, a format that often performs well at Eurovision
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A strong vocal background rooted in jazz and live performance
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A country with a proven track record of staging memorable performances
If the live performance in Vienna matches the studio version and staging is executed well, Azerbaijan could realistically compete for the top positions – and potentially even for another Eurovision victory.