Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Finland's national selection for Eurovision song contest 2026  or UMK (Uuden musiikin kilpailu) takes place in Tampere tonight in Tampere arena to sold out crowds.  Special guests are last year's UMK winner Erika Vikman (11th in ESC) with last year's Eurovision winner Austrian  JJ, Finland's Eurovision 1985 represent Sonja Lumme and quartet of leading Finnish rappers Elastinen, Ares, Turisti and Averagekidluke. It's worth remembering JJ's staging and even outfit was made in Finland last year with UMK team.  The show is hosted by Jorma Uotinen, Sami Sykkö and Jasmin Beloued. Read more about them here . Out of 491 submitted entries a panel of nine members along with five audience groups selected the seven entries for the final. Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen emerged instantly the runaway favorites to win the selection gaining more Youtube views in 24 hrs than any other UMK entry ever and also reached one million streams in record time. They also became inter...

Yle has usually revealed the hosts even before the artists but this year they have kept the secret for a long time. But today the news are out: Jasmin Beloued, already at it last year, will host the show with celebrities Jorma Uotinen and Sami Sykkö,  a popular podcast couple and not only. Jasmin Beloued (26) started hosting Yle's youth program at the age of 17 and few years later moved to Yle Mix channel. Since then she's been a regular in Yle's programs and made it to mainstream with UMK last year and later last year as one of the reporter's in the Independence Day  Ball, the most watched tv program in (along with Eurovision and sports) in Finland annually. Jorma Uotinen (75) is a household name in Finland. Since 1970 he has danced and choreographed in Finland and abroad. He has danced in Paris Opera, Milan's La Scala, Royal ballets of Denmark and Sweden and in Berlin's Staatsoper. Later he created also a career as a singer and was the boss of National Ballet ...