YUNA

YUNA (Yearly Ukrainian National Awards) is Ukraine's premier national music awards ceremony, co-founded by Pavlo Shylko and Mohammad Zahur to recognize major achievements in contemporary Ukrainian music. The 15th edition took place on April 15, 2026, at the Palace "Ukraine" in Kyiv, with Artem Pivovarov winning three awards and the ceremony also honoring the 15 most influential Ukrainian artists of the past 15 years.

How YUNA Works

The awards follow a jury-based selection process:

1. Eligibility: Works premiered between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year qualify. The 15th edition (YUNA 2026) covered releases from 2025.
2. Jury: A panel of music industry experts evaluates nominees based on commercial success and cultural impact. Each jury member's profile is publicly available on the YUNA website, ensuring transparency.
3. Categories: The ceremony presents awards across 14 categories, including Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Song, Best Album, Best Pop Group, Best Rock Group, Best Duet/Collaboration, Best Music Video, Best Concert Event, Best Song for a Film, Discovery of the Year, Best Hip-Hop Hit, Best New Version (Cover), and Best Artist Management.
4. Ceremony: The awards are held annually at the Palace "Ukraine" in Kyiv. The 15th edition was hosted by Anatolii Anatolich, Masha Yefrosynina, and Pavlo Shylko, and broadcast on M1 on April 25, 2026.

The ceremony also features special projects. In 2026, YUNA honored the "15 Most Influential Artists in 15 Years," a jury-selected list that included MONATIK, Jerry Heil, TNMK, Artem Pivovarov, DOROFEEVA, Antitila, Bez Obmezhen, PIANOBOY, ONUKA, DakhaBrakha, and Jamala.

Real-World Example: YUNA 2026

The 15th YUNA ceremony took place on April 15, 2026, at the Palace "Ukraine" in Kyiv. Artem Pivovarov was the biggest winner of the night, taking home three awards: Best Male Artist, Best Concert Event (for 7 shows at the Palace of Sports), and sharing in the Best Song for a Film award.

Jerry Heil and Kazhanna each won two awards. Jerry Heil won Best Music Video for "Dodai Huchnosti (12 points)" and shared the Best Song for a Film award with MONATIK and Eugen Khmara for "Vymolyv" (from the film "Vidpustka Naoslip"). Kazhanna won Discovery of the Year and Best Hip-Hop Hit for "boy."

Alena Omargalieva won Best Female Artist. Drevo won Best Song for "Smaragdove Nebo." The Maneken won Best Album for "Nova Era." Ziferblat won Best Rock Group, and The Vusa won Best Pop Group. ADAM and Sasha Norova won Best Duet/Collaboration for "Au Au." TVORCHI won Best New Version for their cover of "Mila Moyа."

Awards were presented by Olympic champions Oleg Verniaiev and Olena Pidhrushna, actor Mykhailo Kukuiuk, actresses Dasha Tregubova and Anastasiia Tsymbalaru, singer ONUKA, conductor Maksym Husak, and businessman Mohammad Zahur.

At the 14th edition (YUNA 2025) held on April 23, 2025, Okean Elzy and MONATIK were the biggest winners with three awards each. Okean Elzy won Best Rock Group, Best Concert Show, and Best Album for "Toi Den." Jerry Heil and alyona alyona won Best Song and Best Duet for "Teresa and Maria."

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

YUNA is the only national music awards ceremony in Ukraine that recognizes the full spectrum of contemporary Ukrainian music. The jury-based system means nominations reflect industry recognition rather than pure fan voting, giving independent artists with strong artistic output a genuine chance at nomination.

The Discovery of the Year category specifically targets emerging talent. Recent winners include Kazhanna (2026) and Domiy (2025), both relatively new artists at the time of their wins. The Best New Version category, which recognizes cover songs, offers an accessible entry point for independent artists to gain recognition by reimagining classic Ukrainian songs.

Ukraine's music industry has grown significantly since 2022, with increased international attention on Ukrainian artists. A YUNA nomination or win can attract attention from international bookers, festivals, and labels. The Best Song for a Film category also bridges music and film industries, creating cross-industry opportunities.

If you are an independent Ukrainian artist, ensure your releases are available on all major streaming platforms and submitted for jury consideration. Build relationships with Ukrainian music media and radio stations. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your performance. Check the YUNA website for eligibility windows and submission guidelines.

Related Resources

• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that builds industry recognition
• Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
• 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy
• When and How to Hire a Music Manager - A manager can help coordinate awards submissions
• Performance Rights Organizations - Ukrainian PROs like UACAP collect royalties for YUNA-nominated songwriters