Review: “UMK 2026” (Finland)

Finland will select its Eurovision 2026 entry via “UMK 2026″.
7 artists will compete in the selection.
The final will be held on Saturday, February 28th, 2026.
The results will be based on 75% public votes and 25% international jury votes.

In this post, I will review the 7 competing songs:

#1.Komiat – “Lululai”

• It is a high-energy, modern humppa and schlager-pop song with strong ethnic Finnish influences.
• The song starts with a bright, rapid accordion riff, acoustic guitar, and a steady, marching drum beat, setting a festive, traditional tone. It is accompanied by whistles.
• The first verse features a clean, storytelling vocal delivery over a rhythmic acoustic guitar. The lead singer has a classic, warm schlager tone.
• The first pre-chorus introduces a rising brass section that builds a “village party” tension.
• The first chorus is a rowdy, anthemic “shout-along” with a heavy, swinging beat that is pure dance-floor energy. The flow is very specific, and it is (too) repetitive. The hook “Lululai” is designed for instant crowd participation.
• The second verse adds more playful percussion and a walking bassline. It is more rhythmic.
• The second chorus has a slower vibe that sounds like much of 1950s-1960s radio quality. Later on, we get the second chorus in a much more festive atmosphere.
• Overall, it’s a charming entry that relies on nostalgia and “Finnishness.” While it’s highly memorable, it might be a bit too “local” for an international jury. Personally, I find it a bit dated. It’s a polished production, but it lacks the engagement I look for.

#2. Etta – “Million Dollar Smile”

• It is a rhythmic, urban pop-rap song, performed in Finnish.
• The song starts with a cyclic piano melody and a subtle voice.
• a filtered electric guitar loop, and a snapping finger-click beat.
• Etta’s first verse is delivered with a cool, laid-back flow. Her rapping is precise and rhythmic, sitting perfectly within the pocket of the beat. It also combines soulful singing.
• The first pre-chorus adds a pulsing synth and a more aggressive drum pattern to build towards the hook.
• The first chorus is a melodic, radio-friendly pop hook with a polished sub-bass. It feels very current but stays within a safe lane. However, it adds a more classic dimension via piano playing.
• The second verse is a pure rap output, but it is very accessible and emotional. It is based on distorted electronic guitars.
• The second chorus is based on multiple layers: bass riffs, constant beat, and piano playing.
• The bridge features a more emotive, spoken-word section that builds into a final vocal belt
• Overall, it feels authentic to Etta’s brand, but it fails to truly “pop” as a Eurovision entry. It’s a high-quality radio track, but in the context of a live show, it might be lost. The biggest advantage is that I tend to like it, even though I am not into rap at all!

#3. KIKI – “Rakkaudenkipee” (Love Sick)

• It is a high-drama, dark-pop track performed in Finnish.
• The song starts with a haunting, cinematic piano melody and KIKI’s breathy, vulnerable vocals.
• The first verse is atmospheric, building slowly with a soft electronic pulse and “ice-cold” synth textures. KIKI sings in a mid-low, emotive tone.
• The first pre-chorus is memorable and dark, featuring a tense, aggressive build-up with heavy industrial hits. It is vulnerable, and yet powerful, letting KIKI present a wider range of her voice.
• The first chorus is a massive, bass-heavy explosion that combines a gritty club beat with a soaring, desperate melody. The production is thick and layered. She wraps it magically with the “ehh-ehh” hook.
• The bridge features a stripped-back, almost silent section before a final, wall-of-sound climax.
• It ends with an effective techno outro, taking the song to another field. It slaps hard, adding to the modern line and mystery.
• Overall, it is a powerful “drama-pop” anthem. It’s polished, intense, and emotionally resonant. KIKI has delivered a vocal masterclass here. In my opinion, this has the strongest entries for those who want a serious, high-fashion entry. Well done!

#4. Antti Paalanen – “Takatukka” (Back Hair)

• It is an aggressive, industrial-folk song with “techno-accordion” influences.
• The song starts with a distorted, growling accordion riff and a heavy, mechanical drum beat that sounds like a factory line. The vocals remind a lot of throat singing.
• The first verse is delivered with a guttural, throat-singing style. Antti’s voice is more of a rhythmic instrument here than a melodic one.
• The first pre-chorus uses a frantic, high-speed accordion run and crashing electronic cymbals to build to the hook.
• The first chorus is a loud, repetitive chant with a “wall of sound” production. The melody is secondary to the sheer rhythmic force of the accordion and the heavy bass.
• The second verse adds more glitchy electronic effects and vocal distortions.
• The bridge features an insane, high-speed accordion solo that highlights Antti’s virtuosity.
• Overall, it’s a song that will feed the “chaos-loving” side of Eurovision. However, it’s extremely polarizing. At some point, the industrial noise becomes a bit too aggressive to follow for the casual listener. I genuinely see it as a joke entry that has been taken too seriously. I hope that people will see much beyond the beats. This one is a classic case of too many effects

#5. CHACHI – “Cherry Cake”

• It is a sleek, dance-pop track with heavy K-pop and Latin-pop production influences.
• The song starts with a playful, high-pitched synth hook and a driving, four-on-the-floor house beat. The melody is based on keyboards loop, and later on some trumpet sound is added.
• The first verse is sassy and rhythmic, featuring Chachi’s light, “pop-princess” vocals. The melody is based on short, staccato phrases.
• The first pre-chorus introduces a rising riser and a “clap” track that builds significant energy. The sound is based on a synth mixed with samples beat and keyboards.
• The first chorus is a soaring, catchy explosion of bubblegum pop. It is cyclic and very easy to memorize after the first listen. The lines are sung in very playful way.
• The second verse is performed more as an RnB piece, with fast transitions. The beat is based on a lower BPM but still powerful.
• The second pre-chorus is performed with more vocal emphasis. The second chorus follows; it starts as usual, but transitions into more light trap-pop.
• The bridge features a heavy, hip-hop-inspired dance breakdown, which shifts the focus to the choreography. The song ends with a high-energy final chorus.
• Overall, it is the “commercial peak” of the selection. It feels ready for a world tour. However, I worry the “Cherry Cake” metaphor is a bit too cliché. It’s a fun banger, but does it have enough “soul” for the long run? Also, it isn’t the strongest recipe for a pop song, which might be a serious downgrade.

#6. Sinikka Monte – “Ready to Leave”

• It is a moody, mid-tempo alt-indie pop ballad.
• The song starts with a shimmering, ethereal piano playing and Sinikka’s unique, slightly raspy vocal tone.
• The first verse is atmospheric and introspective, using minimalist percussion and piano base. She sings calmly, accurately, and full of emotion.
• The first pre-chorus adds a layer of vocal harmonies and a steady, pulsing kick drum.
• The first chorus is a melodic, melancholic “drive-away” anthem. It’s not a club hit, but it has a very strong, lingering hook. The accompanying bass guitar can lead us mistakenly to believe that this one goes into a more rock direction, but this is a very sophisticated way to express authentic anger.
• The second verse features more complex electronic textures and a deeper bassline. This part also features orchestral elements like cello and viola playing.
• The second chorus is similar to the first one, but the synth and bass are bolder. She sings in longer notes and more fragrantly.
• The bridge is a beautiful, stripped-back vocal moment that showcases Sinikka’s range before a final, cinematic swell. The production suggests a very jazz and classical line. It is slowly builds up to the final chorus.
• Overall, it feels very sophisticated and modern. The song has a brilliant production, meaningful lyrics, and tons of emotions. For me, it is one of the best ballads of the season! While I personally love this soundscape, I can’t see the general Finnish public picking this over the bigger, louder characters in the lineup.

#7. Pete Parkkonen ft. Linda Lampenius – “Liekinheitin” (Flamethrower)

• It is a grand, symphonic-rock song that blends stadium rock with classical violin.
• The song starts with a dramatic, soaring violin solo by Linda, followed by a heavy, distorted rock guitar riff.
• Pete’s first verse is full of grit and rock-and-roll attitude, delivered with a powerful, husky vocal tone.
• The first pre-chorus uses a cinematic orchestral swell and crashing drums to build massive tension.
• The first chorus is a loud, empowering stadium anthem. The melody is based on a classic rock structure, but the violin adds a layer of elegance that makes it unique. Vocally, we get a higher tone from him, later replaced by more raspy singing. Linda’s violin finalized this part with epic instrumental
• The second verse starts off with emotional and breathy singing. At a specific point, it is sped up. Later, the violin and percussion keyboards build the tension.
• The second chorus is hymnish and memorable, this time with more backing vocals. The melody is epic, and towards the end, it is very cinematic.
• The bridge features a “battle” between the electric guitar and the violin, creating a high-energy instrumental peak. It ends with an almost EDM techno beat.
• Overall, this is a “heavyweight” entry. It feels expensive, professional, and very Eurovision-right. The combination of Pete’s charisma and Linda’s legendary status makes this the one to beat. It’s a fiery, polished anthem that checks every box. If everything goes right in the live perofrmance, this will be the Finnish entry for Eurovision 2026.

My Personal Ranking

1. KIKI – “Rakkaudenkipee” (Love Sick)
2. Sinikka Monte – “Ready to Leave”
3. Pete Parkkonen ft. Linda Lampenius – “Liekinheitin” (Flamethrower)
4. Etta – “Million Dollar Smile”
5. CHACHI – “Cherry Cake”
6. Komiat – “Lululai”
7. Antti Paalanen – “Takatukka” (Back hair)

My Prediction

Overall, it is a very strong selection, suggesting a wide range of genres.
As of the moment, it looks like Pete Parkkonen ft. Linda Lampenius has the best chances of winning.
This can be reflected in the odds, but also because they might rely on the wide support of both the international jury and the local public

Who is your favorite to win “UMK 2026″?

Finland will compete in semi-final 1 of Eurovision 2026 (May 12th, 2026).
The country will perform in the first half of the show.

Eurovision 2026 will be held in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026.