The final of UMK 2026 broke records in Finland for both viewing figures and the number of votes cast.
An average of 1.8 million viewers watched the final of UMK 2026 live on Yle TV1, reaching an audience of 2.5 million viewers. Average audience figures grew by 320,000 viewers compared to 2025, with the audience reach growing by 230,000 viewers. Last night’s final was watched by more viewers than the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final, in which Erika Vikman and KAJ were both competing.
In total, 446,681 votes were cast during the final of UMK 2026. This is an increase of 104,138 votes compared to 2025. Of these, 355,553 votes were cast from the Yle app for free, while 91,128 votes were cast by phone and SMS. Producer Anssi Autio commented:
“If big moments like the Winter Olympics unite Finns in terms of sports, UMK has risen to the same category in terms of culture and music. I am really happy to see how many people gather around new Finnish music and the show built around it. UMK is an excellent example of how Yle’s cultural mission is made a reality every day in many ways”
In addition, Yle has released the members of the international juries that determined 25% of the results in the final, the jurors were:
United Kingdom
Kabir Naidoo
Emma Gale – Songwriter for four national selection songs and Croatia 2025
Nathan Matthews
Nikki Parsons
Netherlands
Eleonora de Jager
Twan van de Nieuwenhuijze – Former Dutch Head of Delegation
Jordy Sparidaens
Jesse Wijnans – Backing for Finland 2023 and 2024
Montenegro
Gojko Berkuljan
Antonela Martinović
Ilija Pejovic – Member of NeonoeN
Bojana Nenezić – Juror at Eurovision 2025
Spain
Mercè Llorens
Borja Rueda – Choreographer for Austria and Cyprus 2025
Tony Aguilar – Spanish commentator at Eurovision and Junior Eurovision
Ahmad Halloun – Member of the Czech delegation
Malta
Lyndsay Pace – Competed in MESC 2024
Julia Cassar
Ian Busuttil Naudi
Arthur Caruana – Juror at Eurovision 2019
Denmark
Phillip Jensen
Inge Høeg
Mike Paud
Mette Helene Christensen
Austria
Patrick Stelzl
Barbara Stilke
Caro Fux
Herbert Stanonik
UMK 2026 took place at the Nokia Arena in Tampere. The show will be hosted by Sami Sykkö, Jorma Uotinen, and Jasmin Beloued. The show was opened by Erika Vikman (Finland 2025) and JJ (Eurovision 2025 winner for Austria. During the interval, there were also guest performances from Sonja Lumme (Finland 1985), Turisti, Averagekidluke, Ares and Elastinen.
A total of seven artists competed in UMK 2026. The results were decided by seven international juries (25%) and public voting (75%).
The results were as follows:
ArtistSongJuryPublic VoteTotalResultKomiat“Lululai”40761163rdEtta“Million Dollar Smile”1230426thKiki“Rakkaudenkipee”2814427thAntti Paalanen“Takatukka”581522102ndCHACHI“Cherry Cake”3267994thSinikka Monte“Ready to Leave”4651975thLinda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen“Liekinheitin”784925701st
Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen will perform in the first half of the first semi-final on May 12.
Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest+
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.