“Star Factory” Returns: Legendary Ukrainian Talent Show Premieres Today on SWEET.TV

After a 15-year hiatus, one of Ukraine’s most iconic music talent shows is back. The revamped “Fabryka Zirok” (Star Factory) premiered today, September 4, on the streaming platform SWEET.TV, marking a new chapter for a franchise that originally aired from 2007 to 2011 and launched some of Ukraine’s brightest music stars.

A New Era for a Cult Classic

The original “Star Factory” ran on Ukrainian television for four seasons, becoming a launching pad for a generation of recording artists. For its 2026 relaunch, SWEET.TV has repositioned the show as a modern music academy — a format the platform says raises the bar for the franchise, combining live performance, mentorship, and artist development under one roof.

New episodes will air every Friday exclusively on SWEET.TV.

Who’s Behind the Mic

Hosting duties for the new season go to Volodymyr Dantes, a popular Ukrainian singer, TV host, and entertainer — and, notably, the winner of the original “Star Factory” season back in 2008. His personal experience as a contestant gives him a unique vantage point: he understands firsthand the emotional pressure participants face and is positioned as a guide who can support them through the competition’s toughest moments.

Leading the creative side of the project is director Alan Badoev, serving as showrunner and creative director. Badoev and Dantes form the show’s core creative tandem — pairing directorial vision with the kind of lived, relatable communication that comes from a former contestant now guiding the next generation.

“I’m confident this is exactly the right moment for the show’s return,” Dantes said, noting that today’s artists are expected to be more than just singers — they write their own music, shape their own style, and carry their own point of view. “That’s the difference this new generation brings: freedom and confidence.”

From Thousands of Applicants to Eleven Finalists

The road to today’s premiere began months ago. Since announcing the relaunch earlier this year, the show’s production team received 1,782 applications from vocalists across Ukraine and abroad. Following review by the show’s team of experts, 50 finalists were invited to Kyiv for final in-person auditions.

From that pool, 11 participants were ultimately selected to join the show’s music academy, where they will train with professionals from the Ukrainian music industry, refine their vocal and stage performance skills, and — notably — work on writing original songs of their own.

What’s at Stake

The competition’s winner will walk away with a career-launching prize package: 500,000 hryvnias, a professional career start, and an original song written for them by Ivan Klymenko.

Watch It Live: Prime Shows and the Season Finale

Beyond the weekly streamed episodes, SWEET.TV is hosting two in-person prime shows on September 17 and September 24, 2026.

The season will build toward a grand finale gala concert at the Palace of Sports on November 28, 2026.

Where to Watch

The first episode of “Fabryka Zirok” (Star Factory) is streaming now, exclusively on SWEET.TV, with new episodes releasing every Friday throughout the season.