Tonight, Finland’s Yle has announced the seven acts that will compete at this year’s UMK; Finland’s longstanding national final for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Who will participate in the Finnish selection?
The artists participating in the selection are:
| Artist | Entry | Release Date |
| Etta | “Million Dollar Smile” | January 15th |
| Pete Parkkonen x Linda Lampenius | “Liekinheitin” | January 16th |
| Komiat | “Lululai” | January 19th |
| Sinikka Monte | “Ready to Leave” | January 20th |
| Antti Paalanen | “Takatukka” | January 21st |
| Chachi | “Cherry Cake” | January 22nd |
| KIKI | “Rakkaudenkipee” | January 23rd |
The songs competing at this year’s contest are not currently available. They are set to be announced nightly starting tomorrow. The final of this year’s UMK is set to take place in Tampere on February 28.
What is UMK?
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK for short) has been the method of selection for Finland since 2012. The national selection has seen a variety of different formats over the years. We have had semi-finals, we have had a song selection for internally choosen artists, Yle have really given us it all in terms of this national final.
Currently UMK takes place over one night, with seven acts taking part. Thanks to high production value, an international focus. and fan favourite songs, UMK has grown in popularity over the years and is now one of the most anticipated on the national final calendar.
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 56 times, and appeared in the final 48 times. Finland has finished in the top 10 an impressive 14 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 “ICH KOMME” by Erika Vikman. Competing in the second semi-final, Erika qualified for the final, and would eventually finish in 11th place with 196 points. Of these, 108 came from the televote, while the jury awarded her 88 points.
Which of this year’s UMK 2026 acts are you most excited for? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, Tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
News Source: Yle
Picture Credit: Yle
Giwrgos Oiko 
Rory Gannon