Finland to choose Eurovision 2021 representative on 20 February

After Estonia, the Eurovision 2021 journey has also started in Finland. The country's broadcaster (YLE) has opened the submissions for next year's UMK – Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu – and will host the show on 20 February at the Tampere Mediapolis TV studios.

It had already been announced that Aksel Kankaanranta (Finland 2020) is not getting any advantage in the process. He'll have to go through the entire selection process again if he's still interested in taking part in the show.

According with UMK's producer – Anssi Autio – due to COVID-19, the show may be held without an audience but he assures that a "winner will be crowned".

The submissions for the contest are now opened and will close on 7 September. The selected contestants will be chosen by an expert jury panel leaded by Tapio Hakanen, music manager of Finland's radio station YleX.

As for the rules, those vary: whereas a singer can submit up to three songs; the remaining part of the team (songwriter, producer, composer) have no limitations. It is also stated that, at least, one member of a song's team needs to live permanently in Finland or have Finnish citizenship.

The selected artists will be revealed on January of 2021.

Finland in Eurovision Song Contest

Finland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 and has participated ever since, except for six years, mostly because of previous years' bad position.

The country has won the competition once, in 2006 with the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah", performed by Lordi.

Since then Finland's best result is 11th place in 2014.

Since the introductions of semi-finals in 2004, Finland has qualified for the Grand Final half of the 16 times.