FINLAND: RECORD NUMBER OF SONGS FOR UMK 2026

Yle has announced today information on coming UMK 2026 with the first clues on artists.

Yle received a record number of 491 songs for UMk 2026. As usual seven entries have been selected via various juries (both professional and amateur) to compete. The show will include also grand opening and interval acts by Top Finnish artists.

The artists will be revealed on January 14, 2026 in live television event and the song previewed as usual one per day at midnight between January 15 and 23. The final takes place on February 28 in Tampere Arena.

There will be as give as glues:

a charismatic performer making their debut at UMK,

an artist who represents a current sound right now,

an internationally sought-after crowd-pleaser,

a pioneer in their own genre,

an attractive duo of two performers with unique voices,

a dramatic pop piece from a singer with a magnificent voice,

and a captivating ballad from an artist radiating international appeal

Some wild guesses pre-announcement are here, Let the guessing and speculation restart with full force!

The ticket sales start on October 2 at 9 am Finnish time for both the final and the dress rehearsal (where the international juries cast their votes). A total of 20.000 fans are expected to gather to Tampere for the event from Finland and abroad all the way from the Americas and Asia, and two million television viewers. That's not all. As previous years in Tampere arena there will be both pre and after party obtion for those who want to celebrate the night away.

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