Yle have released further details about next years edition of UMK.
The Finnish broadcaster has revealed that UMK 2026 will be coming to Nokia Arena in Tampere on Saturday 28th February, with tickets for the show going on sale Thursday 2nd October at 9am EET. In a change to previous years, fans will now also be able to buy tickets for the dress rehearsal, in addition to the live show. Tickets can be purchased at: lippu.fi/artist/umk/
"UMK, now organized at arena scale for the third time, is one of the most respected national selections in the Eurovision world, attracting visitors from afar to admire its visuals, spectacle, and communal atmosphere. At last year’s Nokia Arena event, guests arrived from 20 different countries — the longest journeys were made from America and Asia. The UMK event is a unique experience that is absolutely worth experiencing live."
The format of UMK in 2026 will remain the same as in previous years; seven artists will be competing in the final, that will see a plethora of opening and interval acts. However, the international jury will now be voting in the dress rehearsal, and not the live show.
The seven finalists have been chosen by various jury panels out of a record 491 submissions. A jury of music professionals, chaired by Yle Music’s Managing Editor Tapio Hakanen, a professional jury and five public juries were all involved in the selection of the seven finalists.
"This season’s artist and song lineup includes a charismatic performer making their debut at UMK, an artist representing today’s most current sound, an internationally sought-after crowd-pleaser, a pioneer in their own genre, a charismatic duo of two unique voices, a dramatic pop piece from a singer with a stunning voice, and a captivating ballad from an artist radiating international appeal."
The artists that are taking part in UMK 2026 will be revealed in a live television broadcast on Wednesday 14th January. Their songs, and respective music videos, will be released one a day, from the 15th to the 23rd of January.
UMK 2025 saw Erika Vikman come out on top with her song “Ich Komme”. At Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, Erika achieved a fifth consecutive qualification for Finland, where she went on to finish in 11th place in the final.
Are you excited for UMK 2026? Which Finnish artists would you like to see competing in UMK? Let us know your artist wishlist in the comments section below!
Photo credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
