ERR has launched a preview show for Eesti Laul, it’s selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Eesti Laul 2026. Kuulamine, aired its first episode last night, with six of the twelve songs competing in Eesti Laul 2026 being reviewed. The show follows a similar format to its Eurovision preview show and saw Maris Kõrvits, Andrei Zevakin and Ott Lepland discuss the competing songs. Hosting the show is Eurovision commentator and TV presenter Marko Reikop.
The songs reviewed in episode one are:
- Vanilla Ninja – “Too Epic to Be True”
- Laura Prits – “Warrior”
- ANT x Minimal Wind – “Wounds (Don’t Wanna Fall)”
- Grete Paia – “Taevas jäi üles” (The sky remains above)
- Marta Pikani – “Kell kuus” (At six o’clock)
- Stockholm Cowboys – Stig Rästa, Victor Crone – “Last Man Standing”
The next episode airs on January 3.
Eesti Laul 2026
Eesti Laul 2026 is set to take place on February 14 in Tallinn at the Unibet Arena. The participants competing to perform in Vienna are:
- NOËP – “Days like this”
- Grete Paia – “Taevas jäi üles” (The sky remains above)
- Marta Pikani – “Kell kuus” (At six o’clock)
- Ollie – “Slave”
- Uliana Olhyna – “Rhythm of Nature”
- Vanilla Ninja – “Too Epic to Be True”
- ANT x Minimal Wind – “Wounds (Don’t Wanna Fall)”
- Clicherik & Mäx – “Jolly Roger”
- Getter Jaani – “The Game”
- Laura Prits – “Warrior”
- Robert Linna – “Metsik roos” (Wild rose)
- Stockholm Cowboys – Stig Rästa, Victor Crone – “Last Man Standing”
As in previous years, the winner of Eesti Laul 2026 will be determined in two rounds. In the first round, three songs will be selected through a combination of jury voting and televote. In the superfinal, the winner will be chosen solely by televote. The jury for the final will consist of at least seven members, including international music experts actively involved in the making, publishing, or teaching of pop music.
Karl-Erik Taukar and Korea will host Eesti Laul 2026. Both presenters have competed in and hosted Eesti Laul before. Karl-Erik competed in Eesti Laul 2015 with “Päev korraga”, which failed to qualify from the first semi-final. He then returned to host the contest in 2019 and 2020. Korea won Eesti Laul 2024 as part of 5Miinust x Puuluup and represented Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with “(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi”. This year, he hosted Eesti Laul alongside Ines, who represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000.
Estonia finished 3rd in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, the country’s best result since the 2002 contest in Tallinn. Tommy Cash performed “Espresso Macchiato” and scored 356 points, including 12 points from the public in Armenia, Croatia, Latvia, Malta and Serbia.
Image Source: ERR | Source: ERR
Estonia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 alongside six other countries. At the contest in Dublin, they were represented by Silvi Vrait, who finished second last, scoring just 2 points. In 2001, Estonia won the Eurovision Song Contest for the only time to date. They were represented by Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL, who performed the song “Everybody” and took a surprise victory in Copenhagen. After the success of the late-90s and early 00s, Estonia failed to qualify for the final from 2004-2008. In 2009, Estonia launched a new selection show, Eesti Laul, and has since qualified for the final on nine out of fourteen attempts.
