The Europe Jazz Network (EJN), in partnership with the Ukrainian Institute, is proud to announce the winners of the first Ukrainian Jazz Prize, a new initiative recognising outstanding Ukrainian artists and supporting their international development.

The Grand Prix for Best Ukrainian Band has been awarded to Hyphen Dash, a Kyiv-based ensemble emerging as one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary European jazz and improvised music.

Blending elements of jazz, hip-hop, electronica and fusion, Hyphen Dash have developed a distinctive and forward-looking sound rooted in experimentation and genre-crossing approaches. The band brings together Myshko Birchenko (drums), Yevhen Puhachov (guitar, bass), Polina Maiboroda (keys), and Dmytro Startsev (keys, fx), forming a tight-knit collective with a strong and recognisable artistic identity.

The international jury highlighted the group’s bold musical language, combining complex structures with playfulness, rhythm and humour, as well as their fearless approach to improvisation. Their work reflects both the creativity and resilience of the Ukrainian music scene today, while already resonating with audiences beyond the country’s borders, for example at this year’s ESNS festival where they performed.

The Jury this year was composed of: Maria Rylander (EJN Board Member / Göteborg Artist Center, Sweden), Frank van Berkel (Bimhuis, Netherlands), Christoph Huber (Porgy & Bess, Austria), Michael Stückl (Unterfahrt jazzclub, Germany) and Mariana Bondarenko (Ukrainian Institute).

Listen & follow Hyphen Dash:

• Bandcamp
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Facebook

EJN will support Hyphen Dash in developing a European tour, built around a showcase at the 12th European Jazz Conference in Cologne on 26 September 2026. The tour will connect the band with a range of clubs and venues across the EJN network, offering a concrete pathway to expand their international presence and engage with new audiences and industry professionals.

Alongside the Grand Prix, two special prizes were awarded: ShekBand Family Trio (recording session at DUMA Studios, Kyiv) and Oleksandr Malyshev Quintet (professional consultancy for international promotion). The award for Best Ukrainian Jazz Album Release, awarded by leading European jazz media representatives, went to Unnatural Root by Hilarious Disasters. The Best Jazz Album Jury was composed of: Ian Patterson (All About Jazz, UK), Matthieu Jouan (Citizen Jazz, FR), Martin Laurentius (Jazz thing, DE).

The Ukrainian Jazz Prize represents an important step in strengthening the international presence of Ukrainian jazz and improvised music, fostering new collaborations and building lasting connections between Ukrainian artists and the wider European jazz community.

Photo: Hyphen Dash by @svyatsydor