FINLAND in the Eurovision Song Contest – Participation history

Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participating broadcaster
Participation summary
Appearances
First appearance
Language
National Selections National final
Internal selection
Hostings
Highest placement Top 5 FINAL SEMI-FINALS
Highest placement Top 10 FINAL SEMI-FINALS
Worst placement (Bottom) FINAL SEMI-FINALS
Times qualified – Qualifiying rate
Victories
Nul points (Nil points) FINAL SEMI-FINALS

Participation history

Note: Entries scored out signify where Finland did not compete
Years

1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024 • 2025 • 2026 •
Artists Laila Kinnunen • Marion Rung • Laila Halme • Lasse Mårtenson • Viktor Klimenko • Ann-Christine • Fredi • Kristina Hautala • Jarkko and Laura (Jarkko ja Laura) • Markku Aro and Koivisto Sisters (Markku Aro & Koivistolaiset) • Päivi Paunu and Kim Floor • Marion Rung • Carita (Carita Holmström) • Pihasoittajat • Fredi and the Friends (Fredi & Ystävät) • Monica Aspelund • Seija Simola • Katri Helena • Vesa-Matti Loiri • Riki Sorsa • Kojo • Ami Aspelund • Kirka • Sonja Lumme • Kari (Kari Kuivalainen) • Vicky Rosti (Vicky Rosti & Boulevard) • Boulevard • Anneli Saaristo • Beat • Kaija (Kaija Kärkinen) • Pave (Pave Maijanen) • Katri Helena • CatCat • Jasmine • Edea • Nina Åström • Laura (Laura Voutilainen) • Jari Sillanpää • Geir Rönning • Lordi • Hanna Pakarinen • Teräsbetoni • Waldo’s People • Kuunkuiskaajat • Paradise Oskar • Pernilla (Pernilla Karlsson) • Krista Siegfrids • Softengine • Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät • Sandhja • Norma John • Saara Aalto • Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman • Aksel (Aksel Kankaanranta) • Blind Channel • The Rasmus • Käärijä • Windows95man [feat. Henri Piispanen] • Erika Vikman • Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen •  
Songs “Valoa ikkunassa” • “Tipi-tii” • “Muistojeni laulu” • “Laiskotellen“• “Aurinko laskee länteen“• “Playboy” • “Varjoon – suojaan“ • “Kun kello käy“ • “Kuin silloin ennen“ • “Tie uuteen päivään“• “Muistathan“ • “Tom Tom Tom” • “Keep Me Warm” (Älä mene pois) • “Old Man Fiddle” (Viulu-ukko) • “Pump-Pump” • “Lapponia“ • “Anna rakkaudelle tilaisuus“ • “Katson sineen taivaan“ • “Huilumies“ • “Reggae O.K.” • “Nuku pommiin“ • “Fantasiaa“ • “Hengaillaan“ • “Eläköön elämä“ • “Never the End” (Päivä kahden ihmisen) • “Sata salamaa“ • “Nauravat silmät muistetaan“ • “La dolce vita“ • “Fri?“ • “Hullu yö“ • “Yamma Yamma“ • “Tule luo“ • “Bye Bye Baby” • “Niin kaunis on taivas“ • “Aava“ • “A Little Bit” • “Addicted to You” (Riippuvainen sinusta) • “Takes 2 to Tango” (Tangoon tarvitaan kaksi) • “Why?” (Miksi?) • “Hard Rock Hallelujah” • “Leave Me Alone” (Jätä minut rauhaan) • “Missä miehet ratsastaa“ • “Lose Control” (Menetän hallinnan) • “Työlki ellää“ • “Da Da Dam” • “När jag blundar“ • “Marry Me” (Nai minut) • “Something Better” (Jotain parempaa) • “Aina mun pitää“ • “Sing It Away” (Laula se pois) • “Blackbird” (Mustarastas) • “Monsters” (Hirviöt) • “Look Away” (Katso pois) • “Looking Back” (Katsoa takaisin) • “Dark Side” (Pimeä puoli) • “Jezebel” • “Cha Cha Cha” • “No Rules!” (Ei sääntöjä) • “ICH KOMME” • “Liekinheitin”  

 

  • Emittente televisiva: Yle / YLE (Yleisradio Oy, Rundradion Ab,  Finnish Broadcasting Company) 
  • Processo di Selezione: Selezione Nazionale (Euroviisukarsinta 1961–1969, 1971–1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004–2011 | Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2012–2017, 2020) | Selezione Interna (2018–2019 (artista))
  • Organizzazione concorso – Paese ospite: 1 ESC Helsinki 2007
  • Numero di partecipazioni: 53 (45 finali)
  • Lingue: Finlandese (32), Inglese (15), Svedese (2), Finlandese / Inglese (1)
  • Prima partecipazione: ESC Cannes 1961: Laila Kinnunen | Valoa Ikkunassa
  • Miglior piazzamento: Top 5: FI: 1° (2006) | SF: 
  • Miglior piazzamento Top 10: FI: 
  • Peggior piazzamento (Bottom): FI: Last: 1963, 1965, 1968, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2009 | SF: Last: 2015, 2019
  • Average place: 13,75
  • Qualificazioni per la Finale: 8 su 16 (dal 2004)
  • Numero di vittorie: 1 (ESC Athens 2006: Lordi | Hard Rock Hallelujah)
  • Nul points (Nil points): FI: 1982, 1965, 1963| SF: 0

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 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.

✨ Finland debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961, when they were represented by Laila Kinnunen with her song Valoa Ikkunassa (‘Light In The Window’). They won on their 40th participation thanks to monster metal band Lordi and their record-breaking anthem Hard Rock Hallelujah, which achieved the highest number of points for an entry in the Contest’s history at the time. Another record was achieved in 2015 by Finnish punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät who participated with the shortest competing song; Aina Mun Pitää (‘I Always Have To’) clocked in at one minute and 27 seconds. In 2023, Käärijä came close to picking up a second victory for his country, securing the most televote points in Liverpool for Cha Cha Cha but ultimately finishing as runner-up to Sweden’s two-time winner Loreen.

Participation overview. Below is a list of all songs and their respective performers that have represented the Finland in the contest:

Table key
1 First place
2 Second place
3 Third place
◁ Last place
X Entry selected but did not compete
† Upcoming event

Note: Edizione | # | Artista (i) | Canzone [Musica (m) / Texto (t)] | Lingua (Traduzione) | Punteggio | Posizione | Processo di Selezione

NOTES:

  • a^ In 2009, Finland qualified through the back-up jury selection.
  • b^ The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • c^ Features uncredited vocals by Henri Piispanen
  • d^ All conductors are of Finnish nationality unless otherwise noted.
  • e^ Conducted by George de Godzinsky at the national final.
  • f^ Conducted by Risto Hiltunen at the national final.
  • 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.
  • h^ Conducted by Ossi Runne at the national final.
  • i^ Käärijä was initially appointed as the Finnish spokesperson, though he withdrew before the final and was replaced by Laaksonen.

Photo gallery

Hostings

[edit]

Year Location Venue Presenters Image
2007 Helsinki Hartwall Arena Jaana Pelkonen and Mikko Leppilampi

Awards

[edit]

Marcel Bezençon Awards

[edit]

Further information: Marcel Bezençon Awards
Year Category Song Performer Final Points Host city Ref.
2002 Fan Award “Addicted to You“ Laura 20 24 Estonia Tallinn
[7]
2006 Press Award “Hard Rock Hallelujah“ Lordi 1 292 Greece Athens
[7]
2011 Press Award “Da Da Dam” Paradise Oskar 21 57 Germany Düsseldorf
[8]

You’re a Vision Award

[edit]

Further information: You’re a Vision Award
Year Performer Host city Ref.
2023 Käärijä United Kingdom Liverpool [9]

[edit]

Conductors

[edit]

Year Conductor[d] Notes Ref.
1961 George de Godzinsky [10]
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966 Ossi Runne [e]
1967
1968
1969
1971 [11]
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978 [f]
1979
1980 [12]
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

Commentators and spokespersons

[edit]

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 [13][14]
1961 Poppe Berg [15]
1962 Jan Sederholm [16]
1963 [17]
1964 Unknown [18]
1965 TV-ohjelma 1 Jerker Sundholm [19][20]
1966 Unknown [21][22]
1967 [23][24]
1968 [25][26]
1969 [27][28]
1970 No broadcast Did not participate
1971 TV-ohjelma 1 Unknown Matti Paalosmaa [fi] No spokesperson [29]
1972 Åke Grandell [fi] [30]
1973 TV1 Unknown [31]
1974 Matti Paalosmaa Åke Grandell Aarre Elo [32][33]
1975 Heikki Seppälä [fi] No broadcast Kaarina Pönniö [34][35]
1976 Erkki Vihtonen [36][37]
1977 Unknown Kaarina Pönniö [38]
1978 [39]
1979 Matti Paalosmaa [40][41]
1980 Heikki Harma [42][43]
1981 Ossi Runne Annemi Genetz [44]
1982 Erkki Toivanen Solveig Herlin [45]
1983 Erkki Pohjanheimo [46]
1984 Heikki Seppälä [47][48]
1985 Kari Lumikero [fi] Annemi Genetz [49]
1986 Solveig Herlin [50]
1987 Erkki Toivanen [51]
1988 Erkki Pohjanheimo [52][53]
1989 Heikki Harma [54][55]
1990 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Ossi Runne [56][57]
1991 Erkki Pohjanheimo Johan Finne, Paul Olin [sv], Wille Wilenius [fi] Heidi Kokki [58]
1992 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Kati Bergman Solveig Herlin [59]
1993 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Kirsi-Maria Niemi [60]
1994 Unknown [61]
1995 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Olli Ahvenlahti No broadcast Did not participate [62][63]
1996 Erkki Pohjanheimo, Sanna Kojo, Minna Pentti Solveig Herlin [64][65]
1997 Aki Sirkesalo, Olli Ahvenlahti Did not participate [66][67]
1998 Maria Guzenina, Sami Aaltonen [fi] Unknown Marjo Wilska [68][69][70]
1999 Jani Juntunen Did not participate [71][72][73]
2000 No broadcast Pia Mäkinen [74]
2001 Yle TV1 Jani Juntunen, Asko Murtomäki [fi] Unknown Did not participate [75][76]
2002 Yle TV2 Maria Guzenina, Asko Murtomäki Thomas Lundin [sv] Marion Rung [77][78]
2003 Did not participate [79][80]
2004 Markus Kajo, Asko Murtomäki Anna Stenlund [81][82]
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
[83]
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
[84][85]
2021 Yle TV1 Mikko Silvennoinen Katri Norrlin
[86]
2022 Aksel Kankaanranta
[87]
2023 Bess
[88]
2024 Toni Laaksonen[i]
[89][90][91]

Finland’s average distribution of the given points (2010-2016)

# 2010 2010 SF1 2011 2011 SF1 2012 2012 SF1 2013 2013 SF2 2014 2014 SF2 2015 2015 SF1 2016 2016 * 2016 SF1 2016 SF1 * Total Partici-
pations		 Average
1 Sweden X X 6 X 12 X 4 X 10 X 12 X 12 10 X X 66 7 9,43
2 Estonia X 12 7 X 10 X 6 X X X 10 8 X X 1 12 66 8 8,25
3 Netherlands X X X X X X 8 X 8 X X 3 10 12 6 47 7 6,71
4 Australia X X X X X X X X X X 5 X 8 7 X X 20 3 6,67
5 Iceland 5 7 8 10 7 10 5 12 X X X X X 4 5 73 11 6,64
6 Norway X X 8 X 12 10 7 10 4 X X X X X 51 8 6,38
7 Austria X X 1 X X X X 12 12 X 4 6 3 10 48 9 5,33
8 Belgium 6 10 X X X 2 3 X X X 7 12 X X 40 8 5,00
9 Russia 3 3 8 12 2 X X 8 10 8 6 8 68 14 4,86
10 Hungary X X 12 12 4 10 8 5 X 7 4 62 13 4,77
11 Denmark 2 X X 5 8 7 X 6 X X 1 X X X X 29 7 4,14
12 Israel 10 X X X X 3 X 2 X 3 3 X 7 X X 28 7 4,00
13 Ireland 1 X 10 X 4 7 X X X X X X X X 22 6 3,67
14 Switzerland X X 6 X X 6 8 X X X X X X 20 6 3,33
15 Czech Republic X X X X X X X X X X X X 3 10 13 4 3,25
16 Malta X 1 X X 5 3 5 X X 5 8 27 11 2,45
17 Greece 7 8 4 1 7 4 2 X X 33 14 2,36
18 Latvia X 5 X X X X X X 6 X 2 X X 13 6 2,17
19 France 8 X 4 X X X 1 X X 1 3 X X 17 8 2,13
20 Slovakia X 2 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 2 1 2,00
21 Portugal 6 X X X X X X X X X X X X X 6 3 2,00
22 Ukraine X X X X 2 X X X 12 X X 14 7 2,00
23 Albania 4 X 6 5 X X X X X X X 15 8 1,88
24 Serbia 2 7 2 X X X X X 4 X X 15 9 1,67
25 Germany 12 X X 1 X X X X X X 13 8 1,63
26 Romania X X 4 6 6 X X X X 16 10 1,60
27 Croatia X X X X X X X X X X X 5 2 7 5 1,40
28 Bulgaria X X X X X X X X X X X 4 X X 4 3 1,33
29 Azerbaijan X 5 5 X 3 X X 2 15 12 1,25
30 Belarus X X X X X 7 X X X X X 7 6 1,17
31 Cyprus X X X 1 X X X X X 1 7 9 8 1,13
32 Armenia X X X X 4 X 7 1 12 11 1,09
33 Italy X X 3 X X X X 2 X 2 X X 7 7 1,00
34 Lithuania X X 2 X X X X 6 X X 8 8 1,00
35 Turkey 3 X X X X X X X X X X X X X 3 3 1,00
36 Spain 4 X X 3 X X X X X X 7 8 0,88
37 Slovenia X X X X X X X 2 1 X X X X X 3 4 0,75
38 Poland X X X X X X X 5 X X 5 7 0,71
39 Moldova X 6 X X X X X X 6 9 0,67
40 San Marino X X X X X 1 X X X X X 3 4 6 0,67
41 Georgia X 1 X X X 5 X X 6 10 0,60
42 North Macedonia X X X X X X 1 X X X X X 1 5 0,20

Finland’s average distribution of the received points (2010-2016)

# Country 2010 2010 SF1 2011 2011 SF1 2012 2012 SF1 2013 2013 SF2 2014 2014 SF2 2015 2015 SF1 2016 2016 * 2016 SF1 2016 SF1 * Total Partici-
pations		 Average
1 NO Norway X 12 12 X 8 7 12 X X X X 51 12 4,25
2 PL Poland 1 5 10 X X X X 3 8 X X X X 26 9 2,89
3 IS Iceland 6 10 12 7 7 5 X X 2 X 43 16 2,69
4 CH Switzerland X 5 10 1 2 4 8 X X X X 30 13 2,31
5 HU Hungary X 6 12 5 6 X 2 4 1 X 36 17 2,12
6 DK Denmark X 5 X 8 2 X 4 X 2 X X X 21 11 1,91
7 GB United Kingdom X 6 X X 6 8 X X X X 20 11 1,82
8 SE Sweden X 7 X X X 6 X X 4 6 X 23 13 1,77
9 EE Estonia 10 7 X X X 6 X 4 7 X 24 14 1,71
10 PT Portugal 8 X X X X X X X X X X 8 5 1,60
11 LV Latvia 6 X 6 8 3 X X X X X 17 11 1,55
12 IE Ireland X 3 X 3 X 10 X X X X 16 11 1,45
13 DE Germany 3 2 X X 1 3 4 5 X X X X 15 11 1,36
14 IT Italy X X X 6 8 X X X X 14 11 1,27
15 LT Lithuania X 1 7 X X 5 X X X X 13 11 1,18
16 AM Armenia X 6 X X X 8 X 14 15 0,93
17 RO Romania X X 3 5 X X X X X 8 9 0,89
18 AT Austria X X X 4 8 2 X 14 16 0,88
19 ES Spain 2 4 8 X 3 X 15 17 0,88
20 IL Israel X X 2 4 1 3 X X X X 10 12 0,83
21 MK North Macedonia X X 10 X X X 10 12 0,83
22 SM San Marino X 3 7 3 X X X 13 16 0,81
23 CZ Czech Republic X X X X X X X X X X 7 X 7 9 0,78
24 RU Russia 3 12 X X X 12 16 0,75
25 RS Serbia 3 X X X X 4 X X X 7 10 0,70
26 FR France X X 3 7 X X 10 15 0,67
27 MT Malta 2 X 1 X 5 X 6 16 0,38
28 AZ Azerbaijan X 3 3 X X X 6 16 0,38
29 BE Belgium 7 X 1 X 3 X X X X 4 11 0,36
30 TR Turkey X 1 X X X X X X X X X X X X 1 3 0,33
31 NL Netherlands X X X X 2 X 2 X 4 14 0,29
32 HR Croatia X 3 X X X X X X X 3 12 0,25
33 GR Greece 4 X 4 18 0,22
34 SI Slovenia X X X X 2 X X X X 2 10 0,20
35 AL Albania 1 1 X X X X 2 13 0,15
36 BY Belarus 7 X X X 1 X X X 1 11 0,09
37 GE Georgia X X 1 X X X 1 13 0,08

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