Not all UMK 2026 entries have been revealed yet, but Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen’s new song is already breaking Finnish national selection records, surpassing Erika Vikman and Käärijä.
Finland’s national broadcaster YLE began unveiling songs last Wednesday from the seven artists competing in the national selection “UMK 2026”, which will determine Finland’s representative for Eurovision 2026, set to take place in Vienna, Austria. Only two of the seven songs have been released so far, but a clear frontrunner has already emerged—one that shattered Erika Vikman’s record from last year, amassing more than 490,000 YouTube views within a single day.
The viral hit turning heads across Finland is “Liekinheitin” by Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen. Its meteoric success is largely credited to the participation of Linda Lampenius, a violinist celebrated in Finland as one of the country’s most versatile musicians. Lampenius is known for effortlessly moving between pop, jazz, classical, techno and numerous other genres. A national sensation since the 1990s, her name alone sparked major curiosity the moment the list of participants was announced.
In “Liekinheitin,” Lampenius provides the violin accompaniment that defines the song’s entire identity—melding Finnish instrumental flair with contemporary, radio‑ready pop production. That combination has created a sound uniquely positioned for virality.
Viral Winners: Following Erika Vikman and Käärijä’s Path
Traditionally, the artist or song that tops the viral charts during UMK ends up winning the competition itself. This was true for Käärijä’s record‑breaking 2023 hit, which became the most viral UMK entry of all time at the time, and again for Erika Vikman’s entry last year, which broke Käärijä’s own record.
“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“
- Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – “Liekinheitin“
- Komiat – “Lululai”
- Sinikka Monte – “Ready”
- Antti Paalanen – “Takatukka”
- Chachi – “Cherry Cake”
- Kiki – “Rakkaudenkipee”
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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Ofek Jerassi is an Israeli reporter, editor, content creator, and commentator, specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has developed his extensive expertise since childhood, becoming a close follower of the contest. For the past three years, he has served as a writer and editor for EuroMix—Israel’s largest Eurovision website and one of the world’s leading platforms in the field, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Ofek covered Eurovision 2025 on-site in Basel from the press center in the host city, providing EuroMix readers with firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and exclusive reactions from the audience, artists, and experts. His in-depth knowledge and broad familiarity with the Eurovision world are evident in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
In his personal life, Ofek is a medic and avid traveler. He writes out of a genuine love for Eurovision, placing strong emphasis on credibility, professional commentary, and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
