Yle, the Finnish national broadcaster, has announced the commentators and international broadcasts for Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2026.
A total of twelve commentators will provide commentary for the final of UMK 2026 in eight different languages. The commentators and languages are:
- Finnish – Mikko Silvennoinen
- Swedish – Johan Lindroos & Eva Franz
- English – Jaakko Oleander
- Northern Sámi – Linda Tammela
- Inari Sámi – Heli Huovinen
- Ukrainian – Galyna Sergeyeva
- Russian – Levan Tvaltvadze
- Sign language – Miguel Peltomaa, Silva Belghiti, Jaana Aaltonen & Jark Hanhikoski
As well being broadcast on Yle TV 1 and Yle Areena, UMK 2026 will also be broadcast outside of Finland on OutTV (in the Netherlands and in Spain), with a commentary by former Finnish Eurovision representative Krista Siegfrids.
UMK 2026 will take place on February 28 in Nokia Arena in Tampere. The winner will have the option to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. UMK will be held in Tampere for the fifth time and in the Nokia Arena, the largest indoor arena in Finland, for the third time.
The show will be hosted by Sami Sykkö, Jorma Uotinen, and Jasmin Beloued, and it will feature guest performances from former Finnish Eurovision representatives Erika Vikman and Sonja Lumme.
The running order for UMK 2026 is as follows:
- Komiat – “Lululai“
- Etta – “Million Dollar Smile“
- Kiki – “Rakkaudenkipee” (Lovesick)
- Antti Paalanen – “Takatukka” (Mullet)
- CHACHI – “Cherry Cake“
- Sinikka Monte – “Ready to Leave“
- Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – “Liekinheitin“ (Flamethrower)
Erika Vikman represented Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with “Ich komme”. Finland finished 11th in the final scoring 196 points. Finland received 12 points from the Austrian jury and received 10 points from the public in Sweden, Australia and Estonia.
Source: Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (on Instagram)
Finland first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961. They debuted alongside Spain and Yugoslavia. Finland has finished last in the contest on 10 occasions and has received ‘nul points’ three times. It wasn’t until 2006 that Finland won the Eurovision Song Contest. Lordi represented the country in Athens with the song “Hard Rock Hallelujah” scoring 292 points, a record total at the time.