Members of the Euromix editorial team convened to vote for the competing songs in “UMK 2026”. Who should represent Finland at Eurovision according to the editorial team?
The Finnish Eurovision national selection, “UMK 2026”, is set to take place tommorow at 20:00 CET, featuring 7 contestants. The winner of this local competition will get the chance to represent Finland at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. In anticipation of this event, Euromix editorial team members gathered to listen to the participating songs and select their favorites from the Finnish national selection.
Editorial Picks: Who Should Represent Finland?
Avi Zaikaner: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
The excellent combination of singer Pete and violinist Linda created a dramatic pop piece that is impossible to remain indifferent to. It’s powerful pop that gives space both to the singer’s vocal abilities and Linda’s stunning playing skills. Together, they might even bring Finland its second Eurovision win.
Aviad Berger: First Place – CHACHI – “Cherry Cake”
Wait, wait, before you kill me for not putting Pete and Linda in first place, let me explain. I’m sure they can bring Finland a high result, maybe even a victory, but for my personal taste? Nothing beats CHACHI. I love this song—it makes me happy, it’s uplifting, it’s right, in short, you get it. I also have to honestly say that this national final is just crazy; even my last-place pick here would rank higher than some of the songs already chosen. Anyway, good luck Finland, keep it up!
Ofek Jerassi: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
I don’t like being cliché, but Linda Lampenius and Pete Paekkonen bring us the strongest song of the season so far. The violin accompaniment is thrilling and adds a lot of depth to the song. It’s going to be a sensation if they win—or an amateur flop. Either way, yes Finland, send it, you only have one job on Saturday.
Adiel Shtainmetz: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
And here’s the strongest national final this year by far. What an excellent national final Finland has—my top 5 would all rank in my Eurovision top 10 if one of them wins the national final. In first place above the rest is the duo Linda and Pete with the song Liekinheitin. The song didn’t just break the records of kaarija and Erika. It’s one of the best songs to come out of this season’s national finals and will definitely give Finland one of its best results in the contest, maybe even a second win, exactly 20 years after the first victory. I really hope Finland doesn’t disappoint in its selection like it has in recent years.
Noy Yehoyada: First Place – CHACHI – “Cherry Cake”
My first place is definitely Chachi, who proves here that she is simply perfect! Cherry Cake is a song constructed with incredible precision and throws me straight back to the peak of pop around 2012, with a vibe that strongly reminds me of the iconic opening song of Wizards of Waverly Place. Apparently, I have a recurring motif with songs that remind me of Milkshake or, in her words, “Make it shake” (after getting hooked on Australia’s Milkshake Man last year, here it happens again!), but beyond the pure fun, there’s also a strong and cool feminist message—she makes it clear that she’s not going to stand in the kitchen and bake him any cherry cake! It’s a huge, catchy pop song full of character, and it wins this national final hands down.
Tal Dahan: First Place – Etta – “Million Dollar Smile”
The Finnish national final is one of the strongest of the season, and despite the small number of songs, I enjoy listening to almost all of them! The song I enjoyed the most, and one of the strongest of the whole season, is Million Dollar Smile by Etta. As its name suggests, the song always puts a smile on my face, it’s well-produced, and really fun to listen to. The fact that it’s in the original language definitely boosts the song a few levels. I have no doubt it will be underrated in the results, but at least it earned a warm spot in my heart.
Maor Heumann: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
This could have gone into the endless list of songs about destructive passion and dangerous love that fill the national finals, but Linda Lampenius’s violin and Pete Paekkonen’s raspy voice turn it into a contagious pop hit that rightly tops the betting charts for Eurovision victory. For Finland, this isn’t a given, and I hope Linda and Pete can leverage the hype into a convincing stage performance that earns them a ticket to Vienna.
Rachel Geron: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
Honestly, this song hasn’t left my head since the first time I heard it. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t my favorite initially, but over time it became the only song in this final I can imagine on the Eurovision stage. The violin jumps far above the other competitors, and the whole atmosphere around the song gives the feeling of a movie I’d totally want to watch on a cozy evening under a blanket.
Ido Naaman: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
For me, choosing Liekinheitin by Linda and Pete as my first place was obvious from the day the song was released. The song grabbed me immediately, and after the first listen, it continued straight through the second, third, fourth, and so on. I think Linda and Pete can bring stage energy at a level not seen for many years in the contest. They have charisma and a special presence that could work in their favor, and my rough estimate is that if the song is selected, it will snag second place in the public vote right after Israel.
Talor Fishler: First Place – Antti Paalanen – “Takatukka”
What a successful national final we got from Finland this year! Very high-level songs and super invested music videos. Among all this excellence, one stood out above the rest: Takatukka. With accordion, hair people, and a low Dead Sea voice, Antti Paalanen gives us an unforgettable experience in his performance. I was completely drawn into his magical voice, in a feeling somewhere between hypnosis and psychosis. With a rhythm that doesn’t leave your head, the song simply invites us to dance in the weirdest way possible, and I’m sure if it goes to Eurovision, it will be a hit.
Neta Geffen: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
Finland continues its streak of successes from recent years and brings a very strong national final again this year. I chose Liekinheitin because of its explosive energy and sense that it’s coming to burn the stage. The song goes all the way with its style and atmosphere, and the combination of Linda’s violin and Pete’s voice makes it stand out in the national final line-up. In recent years, Finland has proven it can be colorful and unforgettable, and this song continues exactly in that line. With a strong performance and a lot of fire in their eyes, this song could become one of the most talked-about and unforgettable Eurovision performances.
Talya Raviv: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
Make way, because it’s finally time for the best national final of the season! This year Finland exploded in their national final, and I can see most of the songs ranking high on the big stage in Vienna. Linda and Pete’s song has everything! Even without knowing the language, the lyrics touched me, and Pete’s captivating voice together with Linda’s mesmerizing violin playing just conquered me. I found myself playing this song over and over like no other song from Eurovision 2026. I’m almost certain this song will be chosen to perform in Vienna, and if it is, it could definitely pose a threat to the other representatives and fight for first place.
Oscar Diefenthal: First Place – Antti Paalanen – “Takatukka”
My winner of the Finnish national final this year is Antti Paalanen with the song Takatukka—one of the most refreshing surprises of the season. It’s a strange, unique song completely different from what we’re used to seeing from Finland, but that’s exactly why it works. Antti’s eccentric persona, together with the unique production and unusual vibe, make the performance unforgettable. If you loved Estonia 2024, this is totally your direction. In my opinion, it’s a clear favorite and one of the selections Eurovision was simply meant for.
Maayan Eli: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
In my opinion, Finland has a strong national final this year; there wasn’t a song I didn’t like, each for different reasons. The diversity of genres, use of Finnish and not just English, and the overall atmosphere of carefully chosen good songs is really noticeable. Even though my first place was obvious, ranking was very difficult; most of the songs are much better than the top of most previous national finals. And for Liekinheitin, which I ranked first, there’s not much to add—it’s excellent, original, unique, and dramatic. A very strong song among other strong songs. Paekkonen Pete’s singing and Linda Lampenius’s violin blend wonderfully in a unique way, and the tempo rises and falls dynamically. This is a song with very high staging and art potential, and I can’t wait to see it on the Eurovision stage. I clearly understand why Finland has climbed to the top of the betting charts—this is a deserving winning song.
Shahar “Chacha” Asido: First Place – Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin”
I usually avoid following the popular opinion, but in Finland’s case, Linda and Pete’s song is really, really interesting, unique, and definitely captivates the audience. The Finnish national final is very strong, and in my opinion, they are on track to choose correctly.
Roie Ben Hoor: First Place – KIKI – “Rakkaudenkipee”
I’ll be honest, the Finnish national final (UMK) left me quite disappointed this year. After years in which Finland provided some of the craziest, boldest, and most unforgettable line-ups in the national final season, the current list mostly feels rather “tame” and just didn’t match my taste. But within all this mediocrity, there’s one shining point—and that’s KIKI with the song Rakkaudenkipee. It’s an uplifting, addictive, and well-made pop gem that immediately stands out above all the other songs in the competition. The song has great drive, a chorus that sticks in your head from the first second (even if you don’t understand a word of Finnish!), and energy that’s simply fun to listen to again and again on repeat. For me, KIKI came and saved this national final, and if the Finns want to ensure a standout, catchy, and fun performance on the Vienna stage—it’s definitely the only choice they need to make.
Full Results
| Avi | Aviad | Ofek | Adiel | Noy | Tal | Maor | Rachel | Ido | Talor | Neta | Talya | Oscar | Maayan | Shahar (ChaCha) | Roie | Total | |
| Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 166 |
| CHACHI | 4 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 131 |
| KIKI | 8 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 123 |
| Etta | 6 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 119 |
| Antti Paalanen | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 106 |
| Sinikka Monte | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 98 |
| Komiat | 10 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 96 |
List of Contestants and Their Songs:
Click on the song title to listen!
- Komiat – “Lululai“
- Etta – “Million Dollar Smile“
- KIKI – “Rakkaudenkipee“
- Antti Paalanen – “Takatukka“
- CHACHI – “Cherry Cake“
- Sinikka Monte – “Ready To Leave“
- Linda Lampenius x Pete Paekkonen – “Liekinheitin“
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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Aviad Berger – Israeli editor, reporter, and content creator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has been working with the EuroMix editorial team for about a year and a half. Since 2024, he has provided continuous Eurovision coverage from the host city, delivering live updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth commentary.
Aviad is also a video editor and filmmaker active in the Israeli media industry.
