The Finnish national broadcaster, YLE, has unveiled the seven artists competing in “UMK 2026”. The Finnish entry for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen on February 28th. Discover the lineup here!
The Finnish national broadcaster, YLE, officially announced today the seven artists competing in “UMK 2026”. This prestigious national final will determine the Finnish entry for Eurovision 2026, which will be held in Vienna, Austria. The grand final of “UMK 2026” is scheduled for February 28th, 2026, at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Southern Finland. Following tonight’s announcement, the seven competing songs and their respective music videos will be released daily, one by one, starting tomorrow, January 15th, through January 23rd.
“UMK 2026”: Official Lineup and Release Schedule
These are the seven participants in “UMK 2026”. Their songs will be released by the following order, day after day, from January 15th to January 23rd:
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Etta – “Million Dollar Smile”
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Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
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Komiat – “Lululai”
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Sinikka Monte – “Ready”
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Antti Paalanen – “Takatukka”
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Chachi – “Cherry Cake”
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Kiki – “Rakkaudenkipee”
Watch the reveal announcement:
Sergio Jaén Brings International Expertise to UMK
Renowned Spanish director Sergio Jaén, who has staged numerous Eurovision entries – including the Eurovision 2025 winning song “Wasted Love” by JJ and Finland’s 2025 entry “Ich Komme” by Erika Vikman – has now taken on the role of artistic director and stage manager for UMK. His involvement reflects YLE’s ongoing strategy of enhancing the contest’s international competitiveness with bold, innovative stage performances, while preserving UMK’s reputation as one of the most visually ambitious and popular national selections in Europe. Jaén, a graduate of Film and Television studies, resides in the United Kingdom and has worked with major global artists such as Dua Lipa.
Looking Ahead: A New Season of Finnish Boldness
In recent years, UMK has gained significant popularity among Eurovision fans across the continent. Following a decade of mixed results, Finland’s current track record highlights a remarkable turnaround. This year, the country reached the Eurovision Grand Final for the fifth consecutive time – its longest streak since the late 2000s.
Two years ago, Käärijä achieved one of Finland’s best-ever results, finishing second in the Grand Final held in Liverpool. Additionally, in 2021, Finland secured an impressive sixth place. These achievements have solidified UMK’s credibility as one of Europe’s strongest platforms for launching competitive Eurovision acts. In Basel, Finland achieved another impressive 11th place.
Finland at Eurovision 2025
“Ich Komme” (in English: “I Am Coming”) is the song performed by Erika Vikman, who represented Finland in the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final. Finland qualified for the Grand Final after placing third in the second semi-final with 115 points. In the Grand Final, Finland finished 11th with a total of 196 points, placing ninth in the public vote with 108 points and tenth in the jury vote with 88 points.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Finland’s 59th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Finland joined the competition in 1961 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2006, winning the contest with Lordi and their song “Hard Rock Hallelujah”.
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Writer and content creator at EuroMix, providing cultural insights into the world of Eurovision. Talor is a second-generation Eurovision enthusiast who grew up attending family viewing parties. The 1999 Eurovision, at just five years old, was the event that shaped his love for the contest. He holds a BA degree in Culture – Creation and Production, and his articles combine academic knowledge with a passion for pop and trash, appreciating humor and clever references in the competition’s songs. He specializes in cultural and social analysis, offering in-depth commentary.
Outside the Eurovision world, Talor works as an independent content and media manager.
