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.
| Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest | |
|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest | |
| Participating broadcaster | Yleisradio (Yle) |
| Participation summary | |
| Appearances | 58 (50 finals) |
| First appearance | 1961 |
| Highest placement | 1st: 2006 |
| Host | 2007 |
| Related articles | |
| Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu | |
| External links | |
| Yle Eurovision page | |
| Finland's page at Eurovision.tv | |
| For the most recent participation see Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 | |
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.
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.
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. 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.
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
| 1 | First place |
| 2 | Second place |
| 3 | Third place |
| ◁ | Last place |
| X | Entry selected but did not compete |
| † | Upcoming event |
| 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 | 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 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 | "No Rules!" | English | 19 | 38 | 7 | 59 |
| 2025 | Erika Vikman | "Ich komme" | Finnish | 11 | 196 | 3 | 115 |
| 2026 | TBD 28 February 2026 † | ||||||
Hostings
| Year | Location | Venue | Presenters | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Helsinki | Hartwall Arena | Jaana Pelkonen and Mikko Leppilampi |
Awards
Marcel Bezençon Awards
| Year | Category | Song | Performer | Final | Points | Host city | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Fan Award | "Addicted to You" | Laura | 20 | 24 | Tallinn | |
| 2006 | Press Award | "Hard Rock Hallelujah" | Lordi | 1 | 292 | Athens | |
| 2011 | Press Award | "Da Da Dam" | Paradise Oskar | 21 | 57 | Düsseldorf |
You're a Vision Award
| Year | Performer | Host city | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Käärijä | Liverpool |
Related involvement
Conductors
| Year | Conductor | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | George de Godzinsky | ||
| 1962 | |||
| 1963 | |||
| 1964 | |||
| 1965 | |||
| 1966 | Ossi Runne | ||
| 1967 | |||
| 1968 | |||
| 1969 | |||
| 1971 | |||
| 1972 | |||
| 1973 | |||
| 1974 | |||
| 1975 | |||
| 1976 | |||
| 1977 | |||
| 1978 | |||
| 1979 | |||
| 1980 | |||
| 1981 | Henrik Otto Donner | ||
| 1982 | Ossi Runne | ||
| 1983 | |||
| 1984 | |||
| 1985 | |||
| 1986 | |||
| 1987 | |||
| 1988 | |||
| 1989 | |||
| 1990 | Olli Ahvenlahti | ||
| 1991 | |||
| 1992 | |||
| 1993 | |||
| 1994 | |||
| 1996 | |||
| 1998 |
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.
| Year | Channel | Finnish commentator | Swedish commentator | Spokesperson | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Suomen Televisio | Aarno Walli | No broadcast | Did not participate | |
| 1961 | Poppe Berg | ||||
| 1962 | Jan Sederholm | ||||
| 1963 | |||||
| 1964 | Unknown | ||||
| 1965 | TV-ohjelma 1 | Jerker Sundholm | |||
| 1966 | Unknown | ||||
| 1967 | |||||
| 1968 | |||||
| 1969 | |||||
| 1970 | No broadcast | Did not participate | |||
| 1971 | TV-ohjelma 1 | Unknown | Matti Paalosmaa | No spokesperson | |
| 1972 | Åke Grandell | ||||
| 1973 | TV1 | Unknown | |||
| 1974 | Matti Paalosmaa | Åke Grandell | Aarre Elo | ||
| 1975 | Heikki Seppälä | No broadcast | Kaarina Pönniö | ||
| 1976 | Erkki Vihtonen | ||||
| 1977 | Unknown | Kaarina Pönniö | |||
| 1978 | |||||
| 1979 | Matti Paalosmaa | ||||
| 1980 | Heikki Harma | ||||
| 1981 | Ossi Runne | Annemi Genetz | |||
| 1982 | Erkki Toivanen | Solveig Herlin | |||
| 1983 | Erkki Pohjanheimo | ||||
| 1984 | Heikki Seppälä | ||||
| 1985 | Kari Lumikero | Annemi Genetz | |||
| 1986 | Solveig Herlin | ||||
| 1987 | Erkki Toivanen | ||||
| 1988 | Erkki Pohjanheimo | ||||
| 1989 | Heikki Harma | ||||
| 1990 | Erkki Pohjanheimo, Ossi Runne | ||||
| 1991 | Erkki Pohjanheimo | Johan Finne, Paul Olin, Wille Wilenius | Heidi Kokki | ||
| 1992 | Erkki Pohjanheimo, Kati Bergman | Solveig Herlin | |||
| 1993 | Erkki Pohjanheimo, Kirsi-Maria Niemi | ||||
| 1994 | Unknown | ||||
| 1995 | Erkki Pohjanheimo, Olli Ahvenlahti | No broadcast | Did not participate | ||
| 1996 | Erkki Pohjanheimo, Sanna Kojo, Minna Pentti | Solveig Herlin | |||
| 1997 | Aki Sirkesalo, Olli Ahvenlahti | Did not participate | |||
| 1998 | Maria Guzenina, Sami Aaltonen | Unknown | Marjo Wilska | ||
| 1999 | Jani Juntunen | Did not participate | |||
| 2000 | No broadcast | Pia Mäkinen | |||
| 2001 | Yle TV1 | Jani Juntunen, Asko Murtomäki | Unknown | Did not participate | |
| 2002 | Yle TV2 | Maria Guzenina, Asko Murtomäki | Thomas Lundin | Marion Rung | |
| 2003 | Did not participate | ||||
| 2004 | Markus Kajo, Asko Murtomäki | Anna Stenlund | |||
| 2005 | Jaana Pelkonen, Asko Murtomäki, Heikki Paasonen | Jari Sillanpää | |||
| 2006 | Nina Tapio | ||||
| 2007 | Ellen Jokikunnas, Asko Murtomäki, Heikki Paasonen | Laura Voutilainen | |||
| 2008 | Jaana Pelkonen, Asko Murtomäki, Mikko Peltola | Mikko Leppilampi | |||
| 2009 | Tobias Larsson | Jari Sillanpää | |||
| 2010 | Jaana Pelkonen, Asko Murtomäki | Johanna Pirttilahti | |||
| 2011 | Tarja Närhi, Asko Murtomäki | Eva Frantz, Johan Lindroos | Susan Aho | ||
| 2012 | Tarja Närhi, Tobias Larsson | Mr. Lordi | |||
| 2013 | Aino Töllinen, Juuso Mäkilähde | Kristiina Wheeler | |||
| 2014 | Sanna Pirkkalainen, Jorma Hietamäki | Redrama | |||
| 2015 | Aino Töllinen, Cristal Snow | Krista Siegfrids | |||
| 2016 | Mikko Silvennoinen | Jussi-Pekka Rantanen | |||
| 2017 | Jenni Vartiainen | ||||
| 2018 | Anna Abreu | ||||
| 2019 | Mikko Silvennoinen, Krista Siegfrids | Christoffer Strandberg | |||
| 2021 | Yle TV1 | Mikko Silvennoinen | Katri Norrlin | ||
| 2022 | Aksel Kankaanranta | ||||
| 2023 | Bess | ||||
| 2024 | Toni Laaksonen | ||||
| 2025 | Yle TV1, TV Finland | Jasmin Beloued | |||
Photo gallery
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