Today, the rehearsals for Eurovision 2026 continue in Vienna. Countries rehearsing on Day 1 include Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Georgia, and Finland. The second to rehearse today is Sweden’s Felicia. Rehearsal’s pictures will be out in approximately 24 hours.
What did we learn about Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen’s staging?
The performance opens with an abandoned orchestra space, with instruments missing and chairs left scattered, as if something has already gone wrong before the song even begins. At the centre of it all stands Linda Lampenius, alone, setting a tense and cinematic tone.
Pete Parkkonen appears separately, framed in a more intimate, almost confessional-style setup. His styling has shifted noticeably, leaning into a more stripped-back and direct look that matches the emotional intensity of his presence. Visually, there’s also a clear evolution from UMK. Linda’s outfit keeps its familiar structure, but the colour transformation into silver gives the performance a colder, more dramatic edge.
What starts as controlled quickly turns physical. Linda moves rapidly across the stage in the final section, turning the performance into something closer to a chase than a duet. The camera follows the action as she makes her way towards Pete, building tension towards a final confrontation.
The closing moment brings everything together. Elevated above the stage, the two performers meet in a dramatic final exchange, before the entire setting collapses into flames, wiping the scene clean.
Who are Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen
Linda Lampenius is a 56-year-old classical violinist. Born into a theatre and classical music-based family, Linda learned to play the violing at the age of five. After graduating from the Sibelius Academy, Linda embarked on a successful music career, performing across the world and even giving performances at the Nobel Prize ceremonies.
Pete Parkkonen is a 36-year-old singer from the Finnish town of Pihtipudas. He first shot to fame when he took part in Idol in 2008, finishing in third place. Since then, he has released two albums and has become a much-loved figure in Finnish 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 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.
What do you think of “Liekinheitin”? Does Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen stand a chance of winning? Let us know your thoughts! Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok as we prepare for Eurovision 2026!
News Source: EBU
Photo Credit: YLE