Who is Atvara? Meet Latvia's Eurovision 2026 entry

It’s time for the next wave of acts to perform as Eurovision 2026 kicks off its second semi-final of the competition – and ready to go ninth in the running order is Latvia!

The Baltic country previously won Eurovision in 2002 and this year, Atvara will be hoping to bring home Latvia’s second ever trophy.

The singer is hoping to wow both the juries and viewers tuning in from home with her female power act, in order to come out on top of the 35 performers participating.

With Eurovision underway, read on for everything you need to know about Latvia’s 2026 entry.

Who is Latvia Eurovision 2026 entry Atvara?

Instagram: @atvara.liene

TikTok: @atvara

Liene Atvara, known professionally as Atvara, is a singer and songwriter whose passion for music began at an early age, so much so her mother enrolled her in a music school.

After completing her studies, Atvara appeared in talent shows such as Dziedošās ģimenes and Koru kari. In 2017, she took part in the Latvian version of The X Factor though didn’t make it past the auditions.

Atvara rose to fame when a song of hers, Pie Manis Tveries, went viral on TikTok and was featured on Nelūgtie Viesi. Since then, she has sold out a string of solo concerts and has co-hosted music awards show GAMMA.

How old is Atvara?

Atvara is 28 years old.

What nationality is Atvara?

Atvara is Latvian and was born and raised in Liepāja in western Latvia.

What has Atvara said about representing Latvia at Eurovision 2026?

“It is a really big task but I am also trying to do this responsibly,” she said in an interview following her win that secured her a spot in Eurovision. “I have some mentors that I’m going to to just breathe in and realise what it means so I’m not just sitting with my hands in my lap and thinking that everything will be fine. I do the mental work so I stay sane during this rollercoaster.”

What is Latvia’s Eurovision 2026 song called?

Atvara will be representing Latvia with the song Ēnā, which she wrote alongside Jānis ‘JJ Lush’ Jačmenkins.

Where did Latvia come in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?

Latvia finished in 13th place at Eurovision 2025 with 158 points. They were represented by girl band Tautumeitas.

The Eurovision Song Contest has faced significant criticism over its decision to allow Israel to take part in the event due to the ongoing war in Gaza.

This year, a number of countries will boycott the contest following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision not to expel Israel from the competition.

At the EBU general assembly in December 2025, a vote was held to introduce new rules that would stop governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters. No vote was held on Israel’s participation.

The EBU said in a statement: “A large majority of members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place.”

Following this, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland confirmed they would not participate in this year’s Eurovision.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ said: “RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”

The BBC, which broadcasts the competition in the UK, has said it supports the decision made by the EBU. “This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive,” it said in a statement.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final will take place on Saturday 16 May 2026.

You can also check out the full list of Eurovision winners and how many times the UK has won Eurovision.

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