🇫🇮 UMK 2023 to be held on February 25th

Finland’s national broadcaster Yle has released a host of new details regarding its national selection for Eurovision – UMK 2023.

What we know about UMK 2023 so far

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu – otherwise known as UMK – has been Finland’s national selection since 2012. It has seen a variety of changes in its format over the years; however, the broadcaster has settled on a competition made up of seven artists.

For 2023, this is no different and in a press release by Finnish broadcaster Yle, it was announced that seven artists will compete to represent Finland in Liverpool on February 25th, 2023.

Similarly, there has been no change in where UMK 2023 will be held. The national final will take place at the Logomo in the southwestern city of Turku. Yle are to put on a Eurovision-filled spectacle, with a pre-party ahead of the finale, as well as an after party. Tickets for the afterparty will range cost only €15, whilst tickets for the selection show will range from €20 to €50, depending on location.

Artists to be revealed in January

In addition to this, Yle also revealed when we should expect to find out the competing artists in UMK 2023. All seven artists, who come from a variety of backgrounds, will be revealed on the 11th of January. Their respective songs will then be revealed one day at a time from the 12th to the 20th of January. This is similar to the 2022 format, where each artist’s song was revealed at midnight Finnish time.

In total, 363 songs were submitted to the broadcaster for the competition. Giving a statement, head of the UMK jury and Head of Music at YleX Tapio Hakanen said:

Expectations for this season are extraordinarily high after last year’s stunning success. The seven finalists include familiar faces and new, up-and-coming talents. We have, among others, the best dance song in UMK history sung by an unbelievably strong new singer, a song that just oozes sexuality by a well-known artist, a heartbreakingly beautiful ballad by one of Finland’s biggest export hopefuls, well-known and up-and-coming bands, and one of the strongest rap bangers in UMK history.

Tapio Hakanen, Head of UMK jury and YleX Head of Music

Finland’s Eurovision journey

Finland debuted in the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 10th with Laila Kunnunen’s “Valoa ikkunassa.” Since then they have competed 55 times, and appeared in the final 47 times. Finland has finished in the top 10 an impressive 13 times. They have won the contest once in 2006, with Lordi’s performance of “Hard Rock Hallelujah” getting 292 points. Finland’s most recent entry was “Jezebel” by The Rasmus. Qualifying for the final, they gained a total of 38 points, earning them 21st place.

What do you make of the news from Finland? Who would you like to take part in UMK 2023? Could Finland achieve its second win in 2023? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok as we look ahead to Liverpool 2023!

News Source: Yle

Photo Credit: Miikka Varila / Mika Hokkanen / Yle