Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest

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Finland has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 58 times since its debut in 1961. The Finnish participating broadcaster in the contest is Yleisradio (Yle), which has often selected its entrant with a national final, since 2012 known as Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu. The country won the contest for the first – and to date only – time in 2006 with "Hard Rock Hallelujah" performed by Lordi. The country's best result before then was achieved with "Tom Tom Tom" by Marion Rung in 1973, which placed sixth.

Participating broadcasterYleisradio (Yle)
Appearances58 (50 finals)
First appearance1961
Highest placement1st: 2006
Quick facts Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest, Participating broadcaster ...
Finland in the
Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
Finland
Participating broadcasterYleisradio (Yle)
Participation summary
Appearances58 (50 finals)
First appearance1961
Highest placement1st: 2006
Host2007
Participation history
Related articles
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu
External links
Yle Eurovision page
For the most recent participation see
Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026
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Finland has finished last in the contest eleven times, receiving nul points in 1963, 1965, and 1982. Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Finland has failed to reach the final eight times. In 2014, the country had its best result in eight years with "Something Better" by Softengine finishing 11th, a result that would be surpassed with "Dark Side" by Blind Channel, which came sixth in 2021, and later with "Cha Cha Cha" by Käärijä, which won the public vote and came second overall in 2023, the latter of which is Finland's second best result to date.

History

Yleisradio (Yle) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. It has participated in the contest representing Finland since its sixth edition in 1961.

Before its 2006 victory, Finland was considered by many to be the under-achiever of the contest. Prior to 2006, it had placed last a total of eight times, three times with nul points. Finland's entry in 1982, "Nuku pommiin" by Kojo, was one of only fifteen songs to score no points since the modern scoring system was implemented in 1975. Due to poor results, Finland was relegated from taking part in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2003.[1][2]

In 2006, Finland won the contest with "Hard Rock Hallelujah" by the band Lordi, an entry that stood out from the Europop that had dominated the competition. The song scored the highest number of points in the history of the contest, with 292, a record that was later broken by Norway's Alexander Rybak in 2009.[3]

In 2015, Finland finished last in the first semi-final with the shortest-ever Eurovision song, the one minute and 27 seconds "Aina mun pitää" performed by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät.[4] Finland reached the final for the first time in four years in 2018, with Saara Aalto placing 25th. After a non-qualification in 2019 with Darude and Sebastian Rejman, Blind Channel placed sixth in 2021, followed by a 21st place for The Rasmus in 2022 and a second place for Käärijä in 2023, the latter of which is Finland's second best result to date.[5]

All of Finland's entries were in English between 1973 and 1976, and since 2000 (with the exceptions of 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2023, and 2025); both of these periods allowed submissions in any language. Finland's entries in 1990 and 2012 were in Swedish, which is an official language in the country alongside Finnish. All of Finland's other songs have been in Finnish.

Participation overview

Table key
1 First place
2 Second place
3 Third place
◁ Last place
X Entry selected but did not compete
† Upcoming event
More information Year, Artist ...
Year Artist Song Language Final Points Semi Points
1961 Laila Kinnunen "Valoa ikkunassa" Finnish 10 6 No semi-finals
1962 Marion Rung "Tipi-tii" Finnish 7 4
1963 Laila Halme "Muistojeni laulu" Finnish 13 ◁ 0
1964 Lasse Mårtenson "Laiskotellen" Finnish 7 9
1965 Viktor Klimenko "Aurinko laskee länteen" Finnish 15 ◁ 0
1966 Ann-Christine "Playboy" Finnish 10 7
1967 Fredi "Varjoon – suojaan" Finnish 12 3
1968 Kristina Hautala "Kun kello käy" Finnish 16 ◁ 1
1969 Jarkko and Laura "Kuin silloin ennen" Finnish 12 6
1971 Markku Aro and Koivisto Sisters "Tie uuteen päivään" Finnish 8 84
1972 Päivi Paunu and Kim Floor "Muistathan" Finnish 12 78
1973 Marion Rung "Tom Tom Tom" English 6 93
1974 Carita "Keep Me Warm" English 13 4
1975 Pihasoittajat "Old Man Fiddle" English 7 74
1976 Fredi and the Friends "Pump-Pump" English 11 44
1977 Monica Aspelund "Lapponia" Finnish 10 50
1978 Seija Simola "Anna rakkaudelle tilaisuus" Finnish 18 2
1979 Katri Helena "Katson sineen taivaan" Finnish 14 38
1980 Vesa-Matti Loiri "Huilumies" Finnish 19 ◁ 6
1981 Riki Sorsa "Reggae O.K." Finnish 16 27
1982 Kojo "Nuku pommiin" Finnish 18 ◁ 0
1983 Ami Aspelund "Fantasiaa" Finnish 11 41
1984 Kirka "Hengaillaan" Finnish 9 46
1985 Sonja Lumme "Eläköön elämä" Finnish 9 58
1986 Kari "Never the End" Finnish 15 22
1987 Vicky Rosti "Sata salamaa" Finnish 15 32
1988 Boulevard "Nauravat silmät muistetaan" Finnish 20 3
1989 Anneli Saaristo "La dolce vita" Finnish 7 76
1990 Beat "Fri?" Swedish 21 ◁ 8
1991 Kaija "Hullu yö" Finnish 20 6
1992 Pave "Yamma Yamma" Finnish 23 ◁ 4
1993 Katri Helena "Tule luo" Finnish 17 20 Kvalifikacija za Millstreet
1994 CatCat "Bye Bye Baby" Finnish, English 22 11 No semi-finals
1996 Jasmine "Niin kaunis on taivas" Finnish 23 ◁ 9 22 26
1998 Edea "Aava" Finnish 15 22 No semi-finals
2000 Nina Åström "A Little Bit" English 18 18
2002 Laura "Addicted to You" English 20 24
2004 Jari Sillanpää "Takes 2 to Tango" English Failed to qualify 14 51
2005 Geir Rönning "Why?" English 18 50
2006 Lordi "Hard Rock Hallelujah" English 1 292 1 292
2007 Hanna Pakarinen "Leave Me Alone" English 17 53 Host country
2008 Teräsbetoni "Missä miehet ratsastaa" Finnish 22 35 8 79
2009 Waldo's People "Lose Control" English 25 ◁ 22 12[a] 42
2010 Kuunkuiskaajat "Työlki ellää" Finnish Failed to qualify 11 49
2011 Paradise Oskar "Da Da Dam" English 21 57 3 103
2012 Pernilla "När jag blundar" Swedish Failed to qualify 12 41
2013 Krista Siegfrids "Marry Me" English 24 13 9 64
2014 Softengine "Something Better" English 11 72 3 97
2015 Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät "Aina mun pitää" Finnish Failed to qualify 16 ◁ 13
2016 Sandhja "Sing It Away" English 15 51
2017 Norma John "Blackbird" English 12 92
2018 Saara Aalto "Monsters" English 25 46 10 108
2019 Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman "Look Away" English Failed to qualify 17 ◁ 23
2020 Aksel "Looking Back" English Contest cancelled[b] X
2021 Blind Channel "Dark Side" English 6 301 5 234
2022 The Rasmus "Jezebel" English 21 38 7 162
2023 Käärijä "Cha Cha Cha" Finnish 2 526 1 177
2024 Windows95man[c] "No Rules!" English 19 38 7 59
2025 Erika Vikman "Ich komme" Finnish 11 196 3 115
2026 Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen "Liekinheitin" Finnish Upcoming †[6][7]
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Hostings

More information Year, Location ...
Year Location Venue Presenters Image
2007 Helsinki Hartwall Arena Jaana Pelkonen and Mikko Leppilampi
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Awards

Marcel Bezençon Awards

Further information: Marcel Bezençon Awards
More information Year, Category ...
Year Category Song Performer Final Points Host city Ref.
2002 Fan Award "Addicted to You" Laura 20 24 Estonia Tallinn
[8]
2006 Press Award "Hard Rock Hallelujah" Lordi 1 292 Greece Athens
[8]
2011 Press Award "Da Da Dam" Paradise Oskar 21 57 Germany Düsseldorf
[9]
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You're a Vision Award

Further information: You're a Vision Award
More information Year, Performer ...
Year Performer Host city Ref.
2023 Käärijä United Kingdom Liverpool [10]
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Related involvement

Conductors

More information Year, Conductor ...
Year Conductor[d] Notes Ref.
1961 George de Godzinsky [11]
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966 Ossi Runne [e]
1967
1968
1969
1971 [12]
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978 [f]
1979
1980 [13]
1981 Henrik Otto Donner [g]
1982 Ossi Runne
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990 Olli Ahvenlahti [h]
1991
1992
1993
1994
1996
1998
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Commentators and spokespersons

Over the years, Yle has had several experienced radio and television presenters as commentators. The Eurovision Song Contest has been broadcast in Finland from 1960 to 2001 and from 2021 onwards by Yle TV1 and from 2002 to 2019 by Yle TV2.

More information Year, Channel ...
Year Channel Finnish commentator Swedish commentator Spokesperson Ref.
1960 Suomen Televisio Aarno WalliNo broadcastDid not participate[14][15]
1961 Poppe Berg [16]
1962 Jan Sederholm [17]
1963 [18]
1964 Unknown [19]
1965 TV-ohjelma 1 Jerker Sundholm [20][21]
1966 Unknown [22][23]
1967 [24][25]
1968 [26][27]
1969 [28][29]
1970 No broadcastDid not participate
1971 TV-ohjelma 1 Unknown Matti Paalosmaa [fi]No spokesperson[30]
1972 Åke Grandell [fi][31]
1973 TV1 Unknown [32]
1974 Matti PaalosmaaÅke GrandellAarre Elo[33][34]
1975 Heikki Seppälä [fi] No broadcastKaarina Pönniö[35][36]
1976 Erkki Vihtonen[37][38]
1977 UnknownKaarina Pönniö[39]
1978 [40]
1979 Matti Paalosmaa[41][42]
1980 Heikki Harma[43][44]
1981 Ossi RunneAnnemi Genetz[45]
1982 Erkki ToivanenSolveig Herlin[46]
1983 Erkki Pohjanheimo[47]
1984 Heikki Seppälä[48][49]
1985 Kari Lumikero [fi]Annemi Genetz[50]
1986 Solveig Herlin[51]
1987 Erkki Toivanen[52]
1988 Erkki Pohjanheimo[53][54]
1989 Heikki Harma[55][56]
1990 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Ossi Runne[57][58]
1991 Erkki PohjanheimoJohan Finne, Paul Olin [sv], Wille Wilenius [sv]Heidi Kokki[59]
1992 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Kati BergmanSolveig Herlin[60]
1993 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Kirsi-Maria Niemi[61]
1994 Unknown [62]
1995 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Olli AhvenlahtiNo broadcastDid not participate[63][64]
1996 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Sanna Kojo, Minna PenttiSolveig Herlin[65][66]
1997 Aki Sirkesalo, Olli AhvenlahtiDid not participate[67][68]
1998 Maria Guzenina, Sami Aaltonen [fi]UnknownMarjo Wilska[69][70][71]
1999 Jani JuntunenDid not participate[72][73][74]
2000 No broadcastPia Mäkinen[75]
2001 Yle TV1 Jani Juntunen, Asko Murtomäki [fi]UnknownDid not participate[76][77]
2002 Yle TV2 Maria Guzenina, Asko MurtomäkiThomas Lundin [sv]Marion Rung[78][79]
2003 Did not participate[80][81]
2004 Markus Kajo, Asko MurtomäkiAnna Stenlund[82][83]
2005 Jaana Pelkonen, Asko Murtomäki, Heikki PaasonenJari Sillanpää
2006 Nina Tapio
2007 Ellen Jokikunnas, Asko Murtomäki, Heikki PaasonenLaura Voutilainen
2008 Jaana Pelkonen, Asko Murtomäki, Mikko PeltolaMikko Leppilampi
2009 Tobias LarssonJari Sillanpää
2010 Jaana Pelkonen, Asko MurtomäkiJohanna Pirttilahti
2011 Tarja Närhi, Asko MurtomäkiEva Frantz, Johan LindroosSusan Aho
[84]
2012 Tarja Närhi, Tobias LarssonMr. Lordi
2013 Aino Töllinen, Juuso MäkilähdeKristiina Wheeler
2014 Sanna Pirkkalainen, Jorma HietamäkiRedrama
2015 Aino Töllinen, Cristal SnowKrista Siegfrids
2016 Mikko SilvennoinenJussi-Pekka Rantanen
2017 Jenni Vartiainen
2018 Anna Abreu
2019 Mikko Silvennoinen, Krista SiegfridsChristoffer Strandberg
[85][86]
2021 Yle TV1 Mikko SilvennoinenKatri Norrlin
[87]
2022 Aksel Kankaanranta
[88]
2023 Bess
[89]
2024 Toni Laaksonen[i]
[90][91][92]
2025 Yle TV1, TV FinlandJasmin Beloued [fi]
[93][94][95]
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Photo gallery

Notes

  1. [a]
    In 2009, Finland qualified through the back-up jury selection.
  2. [b]
    The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  3. [c]
    Features uncredited vocals by Henri Piispanen
  4. [d]
    All conductors are of Finnish nationality unless otherwise noted.
  5. [e]
    Conducted by George de Godzinsky at the national final.
  6. [f]
    Conducted by Risto Hiltunen at the national final.
  7. [g]
    Only year between 1966 and 1989 where Finland participated and Ossi Runne was not their conductor; he instead provided television commentary. Runne still conducted at the national final.
  8. [h]
    Conducted by Ossi Runne at the national final.
  9. [i]
    Käärijä was initially appointed as the Finnish spokesperson, though he withdrew before the final and was replaced by Laaksonen.

References

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