National selections for the Eurovision Song Contest

Last updated

National selections refer to the processes in which the broadcasters of the countries participating in the annual Eurovision Song Contest select the artist and song that will represent them in the contest. [1]

Contents

The two principal ways for broadcasters to select their entries are open selections (national finals) and closed selections (internal selections). [1] Since the introduction of semi-finals in the 2004 contest – due to the extensive amount of participating countries – and the rule of the "Big Five" countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom), [2] [3] a wide range of countries have often alternated between national finals and internal selections based on final placing at the contest.

National finals

Loreen, who won the contest in 2012 and 2023 with her songs "Euphoria" and "Tattoo", was chosen through the Swedish annual national final, Melodifestivalen
. Loreen - Melodifestivalen 2023, Malmo 118 (cropped).jpg
Loreen, who won the contest in 2012 and 2023 with her songs "Euphoria" and "Tattoo", was chosen through the Swedish annual national final, Melodifestivalen .

National finals are the process in which the public of a country can choose the artist with their song, often combining public televoting with the vote of an expert jury. [1]

Organised by the broadcaster, these national finals (consisting of one or more shows) can be televised or non-televised, however, most of the time they are televised as prime-time television shows. [1] On several occasions, the artist is selected internally and the public of the country chooses a song for them through a national final. Alternatively, the broadcaster can select a song and make the public choose the artist that will perform the song through a national final. [1]

Among the most well-known national finals is Melodifestivalen in Sweden, which features six live shows (four heats, a "Second Chance" show and a final in Stockholm) in different cities across the country. [6] In 2012, over an estimated four million people in Sweden watched the final, almost half of the Swedish population. [7] [8]

Saara Aalto, the Finnish representative in the 2018 contest, was selected under a mixed format; she was internally selected by the Finnish broadcaster Yle, and her song "Monsters" was chosen at the Finnish national final, UMK, among her other songs "Domino" and "Queens". ESC2018 - Finland 06.jpg
Saara Aalto, the Finnish representative in the 2018 contest, was selected under a mixed format; she was internally selected by the Finnish broadcaster Yle, and her song "Monsters" was chosen at the Finnish national final, UMK, among her other songs "Domino" and "Queens".

Another example of a long-running national final format is Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) in Finland; in 2018 and 2019, each participant wanting to represent Finland sent three songs to the Finnish public broadcaster Yle, which would select the entrant, and the public of the country would then choose one song among the three that the selected entrant had presented to the broadcaster previously, through a televised final. [10] [11] [12] [13] In 2020, this format was abandoned in favour of a return to the open format seen between 2012 and 2017. [14] [15]

Albania, Denmark and Estonia are the only countries that have always selected their entries via a national final. Latvia has selected all of its entries via a national final, except in 2021, when it internally selected its intended entrant for the cancelled 2020 contest. Finland has selected all of its songs via a national final, but in 2018 and 2019, the artist was chosen internally. Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro also selected all of their entries via a national final during their existence.

Internal selections

Duncan Laurence, who won the 2019 contest with his song "Arcade", was internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS. Duncan Laurence GFDress-048-20190517-EuroVisionary.jpg
Duncan Laurence, who won the 2019 contest with his song "Arcade", was internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS.

Internal selections are the process in which the broadcaster of a country appoints a committee or expert panel to select either the artist and the song, sometimes both, without holding a public vote. [1]

Even though the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) "strongly" encourages countries to hold their own national finals, [1] several countries such as Russia, [17] Azerbaijan [18] and Bulgaria [19] are among those that have opted for internal selections for most of their entries in the contest. Choosing this method is also a common strategy for countries after having failed to qualify for the final on several occasions. [20] [21]

Participants

As of 2023, 52 countries have participated in the contest at least once, and a record 43 countries participated in 2008, 2011 and 2018. [22] [23] [24]

Table key
Inactive countries which participated in the past but did not appear in the most recent contest, or will not appear in the upcoming contest
Ineligible countries whose broadcasters have been suspended from the European Broadcasting Union and are therefore ineligible to participate
Former countries which previously participated but no longer exist
Selection history of the participating countries
CountryDebut yearLatest entryNational final [lower-alpha 1] Internal selection [lower-alpha 1] Absent yearsBroadcaster(s)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 19562023

Eurosong

  • 1956–1963
  • 1965–1984
  • 1986–1989
  • 1991–1993
  • 1995–1996
  • 1998–2000
  • 2002
  • 2004–2006
  • 2008
  • 2011–2014
  • 2016
  • 2023

Total: 51

  • 1964
  • 1985
  • 1990
  • 2003
  • 2007
  • 2009–2010
  • 2015
  • 2017–2022
  • 2024

Total: 14

Total: 4

VRT (Dutch)
RTBF (French) [lower-alpha 3]
Flag of France.svg  France 19562023
  • 1957–1958 (song)
  • 1961
  • 1970
  • 1973
  • 1976–1979
  • 1980–1981
  • 1983–1987
  • 1999–2000
  • 2005
  • 2006 (artist)
  • 2007
  • 2014

Destination Eurovision

  • 2018–2019

Eurovision France, c'est vous qui décidez !  [ fr ]

  • 2021–2022

Total: 22

  • 1956
  • 1957–1958 (artist)
  • 1959
  • 1960
  • 1962–1969
  • 1971–1972
  • 1975
  • 1988–1998
  • 2001–2004
  • 2006 (song)
  • 2008–2013
  • 2015–2017
  • 2020
  • 2023–2024

Total: 42

Total: 3

RTF (1956–1964)
ORTF (1965–1974)
TF1 (1975–1981)
A2F (1983–1992)
France Télévisions (1993–present)
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 19562023
  • 1956–1958
  • 1960–1965
  • 1969–1973
  • 1975–1976
  • 1978–1992
  • 1996–2008
  • 2022
  • 2024

Unser Lied  [ de ]

  • 2010–2019
  • 2023

Total: 57

  • 1959
  • 1966–1968
  • 1974
  • 1977
  • 1993–1995
  • 2009
  • 2020–2021

Total: 12

Total: 2

HR (1956–1976) (ARD)
BR (1977–1991) (ARD)
MDR (1992–1995) (ARD)
ARD/NDR (1996–present)
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 19562023

Sanremo Music Festival

  • 1956–1969
  • 1987–1990
  • 1992–1993
  • 1997
  • 2011–2013
  • 2015–2024

Canzonissima

  • 1970–1975

Total: 49

  • 1976–1980
  • 1983–1985
  • 1991
  • 2014

Total: 10

Total: 20

RAI
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 19561993
  • 1965
  • 1971
  • 1976
  • 1978
  • 1989
  • 1992

Luxembourg Song Contest

  • 2024

Total: 5

  • 1956–1958
  • 1960–1964
  • 1966-1970
  • 1972-1975
  • 1977
  • 1979–1988
  • 1990–1991
  • 1993

Total: 33

  • 1959
  • 1994–2022

Total: 30

CLT
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 19562023

Concours Eurovision

  • 1956–1957
  • 1959–1961
  • 1963–1970
  • 1972–1993
  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2002
  • 2004

Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow

  • 2011–2018

Total: 38

  • 1958
  • 1962
  • 1971
  • 1994
  • 1996–1997
  • 2005–2010
  • 2019–2024

Total: 18

Total: 5

SRG SSR
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 19562023

Nationaal Songfestival

  • 1956–1960
  • 1962–1979
  • 1981–1984
  • 1986–1990
  • 1992–1994
  • 1996–2001
  • 2003–2006
  • 2009–2012

Total: 48

  • 1961
  • 1980
  • 2007–2008
  • 2013–2024

Total: 15

Total: 5

NTS (1956–1969)
NOS (1970–2009)
TROS (2010–2013)
AVROTROS (2014–present)
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 19572023
  • 1981–1984
  • 1990–1991
  • 1993–1994
  • 2002–2005
  • 2011–2013
  • 2015–2016

Total: 16

  • 1957–1968
  • 1971–1972
  • 1976–1980
  • 1985–1989
  • 1992
  • 1995–1997
  • 1999–2000
  • 2007
  • 2014
  • 2017–2024

Total: 40

Total: 12

ORF
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 19572023

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix

  • 1957–1966
  • 1978–1993
  • 1995–1997
  • 1999–2002
  • 2004–2024

Total: 53

Total: 16

DR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 19572023

Festival of British Popular Songs

  • 1957

A Song for Europe

  • 1959–1963
  • 1964–1975
  • 1976–1991
  • 1992–1994
  • 1995
  • 2000–2003

The Great British Song Contest

  • 1996–1999

Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up

  • 2004–2007

Eurovision: Your Decision

  • 2008

Eurovision: Your Country Needs You

  • 2009–2010

Eurovision: You Decide

  • 2016–2019

Total: 57

  • 2011–2015
  • 2020–2024

Total: 10

Total: 2

BBC
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 19582023

Melodifestivalen

  • 1959–1963
  • 1965–1969
  • 1971–1975
  • 1977–2024

Total: 62

  • 1958

Total: 1

Total: 4

Sveriges Radiotjänst (1958)
SR (1959–1979)
SVT (1980–present)
Flag of Monaco.svg  Monaco19592006
  • 1959–1979
  • 2004–2006

Total: 24

  • 1980–2003
  • 2007–2024

Total: 42

TMC
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 19602023

Melodi Grand Prix

  • 1960–1969
  • 1971–1990
  • 1992–2001
  • 2003–2024

Total: 51

  • 1991

Total: 1

Total: 3

NRK
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 19612023

Euroviisukarsinta

  • 1961–1969
  • 1971–1994
  • 1996
  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2002
  • 2004–2011

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK)

  • 2012–2024 (song selection only in 2018 and 2019)

Total: 48

  • 2018–2019 (artist)

Total: 2

Total: 7

Yle
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 19612023
  • 1961–1962
  • 1964–1965
  • 1969 (song)
  • 1970
  • 1971 (artist)
  • 1976
  • 1979
  • 2005
  • 2007–2010
  • 2012 (song)
  • 2014

Eurocanción  [ es ]

  • 2000–2001

Operación Triunfo (OT)

  • 2002–2004
  • 2018–2019

Destino Eurovisión  [ es ]

  • 2011
  • 2013
  • 2021 (song)

Objetivo Eurovisión  [ es ]

  • 2016–2017

Benidorm Fest

  • 2022–2024

Total: 29

  • 1963
  • 1966–1968
  • 1969 (artist)
  • 1971 (song)
  • 1972–1975
  • 1977–1999
  • 2006
  • 2012–2013 (artist)
  • 2015
  • 2020
  • 2021 (artist)

Total: 38

Total: 1

RTVE
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia19611992

Jugovizija

  • 1961–1972
  • 1981–1992

Opatija Festival

  • 1973–1976

Total: 28

Total: 5

  • 1993–present
JRT
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 19642023

Festival da Canção

  • 1964–1969
  • 1971–1999
  • 2001
  • 2003–2004
  • 2006–2012
  • 2014–2015
  • 2017–2024

Total: 54

Total: 1

Total: 6

RTP
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 19652023

National Song Contest

  • 1965–1982
  • 1984–1986

Eurosong

  • 1987–2001

You're a Star

  • 2003–2005

Eurosong(as part of The Late Late Show )

  • 2006–2007
  • 2008–2015
  • 2022–2024

Total: 52

  • 2016–2021

Total: 6

Total: 3

RTÉ
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 19712023

Malta Song for Europe

  • 1971–1972
  • 1975
  • 1991–2010

Malta Eurovision Song Contest

  • 2011–2015
  • 2016 (artist)
  • 2017–2018
  • 2022 (artist)
  • 2023–2024

X Factor Malta

  • 2019–2020 (artist)

Total: 35

  • 2016 (song)
  • 2019–2020 (song)
  • 2021
  • 2022 (song)

Total: 5

Total: 18

PBS
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 19732023

Israel Song Festival

  • 1978–1979

Kdam Eurovision

  • 1980–1989
  • 1991–1993
  • 1995–1996
  • 2001
  • 2005–2006
  • 2008–2011
  • 2013
  • 2014

HaKokhav HaBa

  • 2015 (artist)
  • 2016
  • 2017–2020 (artist)
  • 2024 (artist)

HaShir HaBa L'Eurovizion

  • 2020 (song)

HaShir Shelanu L'Eurovizion

  • 2021 (song)

The X Factor Israel

  • 2022

Total: 35

  • 1973–1977
  • 1990
  • 1998–2000
  • 2002–2004
  • 2007
  • 2012
  • 2015 (song)
  • 2017–2019 (song)
  • 2021 (artist)
  • 2023
  • 2024 (song)

Total: 20

Total: 6

IBA (1973–2017)
IPBC/Kan (2018–present)
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 19742023

Ellinikós Telikós

  • 1979–1980
  • 1982–1983
  • 1986–1991
  • 1998
  • 2001–2003
  • 2007–2012

Eurosong - A MAD Show

  • 2013–2015

Total: 22

  • 1974
  • 1976–1978
  • 1981
  • 1985
  • 1992–1997
  • 2004–2006
  • 2016–2024

Total: 23

Total: 7

ERT (1974–2013, 2016–present)
NERIT (2014–2015)
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey19752012
  • 1975
  • 1978–1979
  • 1980–1993
  • 1995–2002
  • 2004–2005

Total: 29

  • 2003
  • 2006–2012

Total: 8

Total: 16

TRT
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco19801980
  • 1980

Total: 1

  • 1981–2024

Total: 44

SNRT
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 19812023
  • 1984
  • 1990–2000
  • 2004–2006
  • 2008–2012
  • 2015

Total: 21

  • 1981–1983
  • 1985–1989
  • 2002–2003
  • 2007
  • 2013
  • 2016–2024

Total: 21

Total: 4

CyBC
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 19862023

Söngvakeppnin

  • 1986–1994
  • 2000–2001
  • 2003
  • 2006–2020
  • 2022–2024

Total: 29

  • 1995–1997
  • 1999
  • 2004–2005
  • 2021

Total: 7

Total: 3

RÚV
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina19932016

BH Eurosong

  • 1993–1997
  • 1999
  • 2001–2005

Total: 11

  • 2006–2012
  • 2016

Total: 8

  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2013–2015
  • 2017–2024

Total: 13

BHRT
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 19932023

Dora

  • 1993–2011
  • 2019–2024

Total: 25

  • 2012–2013
  • 2016–2018

Total: 5

Total: 3

HRT
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 1994 [lower-alpha 7] 2023

Eurolaul

  • 1993–1994
  • 1996–2008

Eesti Laul

  • 2009–2024

Total: 30

Total: 2

ERR
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary1994 [lower-alpha 7] 2019
  • 1993–1994
  • 1996–1997
  • 2005
  • 2007–2008

A Dal

  • 2012–2019

Total: 13

  • 1995
  • 1998
  • 2009
  • 2011

Total: 5

Total: 14

MTVA
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 1994 [lower-alpha 7] 2023

Selecția Națională

  • 1993–1994
  • 1996
  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2002–2019
  • 2020 (song)
  • 2022–2023

Total: 26

  • 2020 (artist)
  • 2021

Total: 2

Total: 7

TVR
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 19932023

Slovenski izbor za Pesem Evrovizije

  • 1993
  • 1995

Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA)

  • 1996–1999
  • 2001–2011
  • 2014–2020
  • 2022

Misija Evrovizija  [ sl ]

  • 2012

Total: 26

  • 2013
  • 2021
  • 2023–2024

Total: 4

Total: 3

RTVSLO
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia1994 [lower-alpha 7] 2012

Bratislavská lýra

  • 1998

Eurosong

  • 2009–2010

Total: 3

  • 1993–1994
  • 1996
  • 2011–2012

Total: 5

  • 1995
  • 1997
  • 1999–2008
  • 2013–2024

Total: 24

STV (1994–2010)
RTVS (2011–2012)
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 19942023
  • 1999
  • 2001–2002
  • 2004–2008

Lietuvos Dainų Daina

  • 2009

Eurovizija

  • 2010–2012

Eurovizijos atranka

  • 2013–2019

Pabandom iš naujo!

  • 2020–2023

Eurovizija.LT

  • 2024

Total: 23

  • 1994

Total: 1

Total: 7

LRT
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 19942023

Krajowe Eliminacje

  • 2003–2004
  • 2010–2011
  • 2016–2018

Piosenka dla Europy

  • 2006–2009

Szansa na Sukces

  • 2020

Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję

  • 2022–2023

Total: 13

  • 1994–1999
  • 2001
  • 2005
  • 2014–2015
  • 2019
  • 2021
  • 2024

Total: 12

Total: 5

TVP
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia19942021

Evrovidenie

  • 1994
  • 1996
  • 2005
  • 2008–2010
  • 2012
  • 2021

Total: 8

  • 1995
  • 1997
  • 2000–2004
  • 2006–2007
  • 2011
  • 2013–2020

Total: 18

Total: 8

VGTRK (1994, 1996, 2008–2022)
C1R (1995–2022) [lower-alpha 8]
Channel One Ostankino  [ ru ](1995) [lower-alpha 9]
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia [lower-alpha 10] 1998 [lower-alpha 5] 2022

Skopje Fest

  • 1996
  • 1998
  • 2000
  • 2002
  • 2005
  • 2008–2011
  • 2015

Nacionalen Evrosong

  • 2006–2007

Za Evrosong

  • 2022

Total: 13

  • 2004
  • 2012–2014
  • 2016–2021

Total: 9

Total: 6

MRT
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 20002023

Eirodziesma

  • 2000–2012

Dziesma

  • 2013–2014

Supernova

  • 2015–2020
  • 2022–2024

Total: 23

  • 2021

Total: 1

Total: 1

LTV
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 20032023
  • 2005–2007
  • 2008 (song)
  • 2009–2014

Vidbir

  • 2016–2020
  • 2022–2024

Total: 17

  • 2003–2004
  • 2008 (artist)
  • 2021

Total: 4

Total: 3

Suspilne
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 20042023

Festivali i Këngës

  • 2004–2024

Total: 20

Total:

RTSH
Flag of Andorra.svg  Andorra20042009
  • 2004–2005
  • 2009

Total: 3

  • 2006–2008

Total: 3

  • 2010–2024

Total: 15

RTVA
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus20042019

Eurofest

  • 2004–2009
  • 2012

Natsionalny Otbor

  • 2013–2020

Total: 15

  • 2010–2011
  • 2021

Total: 3

Total: 5

BTRC
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg  Serbia and Montenegro20042005 Evropesma
  • 2004–2006

Total: 3

Total: 1

  • 2007–present
UJRT
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 20052022
  • 2005–2013

Total: 9

  • 2016–2018
  • 2020–2022

Total: 6

Total: 6

BNT
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova 20052023

O melodie pentru Europa

  • 2005–2006
  • 2008–2019

Finala națională

  • 2020

Etapa națională

  • 2023–2024

Total: 17

  • 2007
  • 2021–2022

Total: 3

Total: 1

TRM
Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 20062023
  • 2007
  • 2008 (song)
  • 2009–2011
  • 2013

Depi Evratesil

  • 2017–2018
  • 2020

Total: 9

  • 2006
  • 2008 (artist)
  • 2014–2016
  • 2019
  • 2022–2023

Total: 8

Total: 3

AMPTV
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 20072023

Eurosong

  • 2007–2008

Eurovision Song CZ

  • 2018–2020
  • 2022–2024

Total: 8

  • 2009
  • 2015–2017
  • 2021

Total: 5

Total: 6

ČT
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 20072023
  • 2007–2012
  • 2015–2017

Georgian Idol

  • 2019
  • 2020 (artist)

The Voice Georgia

  • 2023 (artist)

Total: 11

  • 2013–2014
  • 2018
  • 2020 (song)
  • 2021–2022
  • 2023 (song)
  • 2024

Total: 8

Total: 2

GPB
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 20072022

MontenegroSong

  • 2007–2008

Montevizija

  • 2018–2019

Total: 4

  • 2009
  • 2012–2017
  • 2022

Total: 8

Total: 6

RTCG
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 20072023

Beovizija

  • 2007–2009
  • 2018–2020

Internally selected composers

  • 2010–2011
  • 2015

Beosong

  • 2013

Pesma za Evroviziju

  • 2022–2024

Total: 12

  • 2012
  • 2016–2017
  • 2021

Total: 4

Total: 2

RTS
Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 20082023

Land of Fire

  • 2008
  • 2010

Milli Seçim Turu

  • 2011–2012 (artist)
  • 2013

Böyük Səhnə

  • 2014

Total: 6

  • 2009
  • 2011–2012 (song)
  • 2015–2024

Total: 12

Total: 1

İTV
Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 20082023

1in360

  • 2018

Digital Battle

  • 2020 (song)

Una voce per San Marino

  • 2022–2024

Total: 4

  • 2008
  • 2011–2017
  • 2019
  • 2020 (artist)
  • 2021

Total: 11

Total: 3

SMRTV
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 20152023

Eurovision – Australia Decides

  • 2019–2020
  • 2022

Total: 3

  • 2015–2018
  • 2021
  • 2023

Total: 6

Total: 1

SBS

Notes and references

Notes

  1. 1 2 The list includes years in which the country planned to participate, but later withdrew.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Italic indicates the country that planned to participate.
  3. VRT and RTBF alternate responsibilities for the contest.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 The country initially planned to participate, but later withdrew.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Did not qualify from the non-televised audio-only preselection round of 1996.
  6. Despite the fact that it was an internal selection, it is still considered an edition of Festival da Canção.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Did not qualify from the preselection round of 1993.
  8. VGTRK and C1R alternate responsibilities for the contest since 2008.
  9. ORT take over Channel One Ostankino and organized the national final and covered the travel expenses of a Russian representative to the competition instead of Channel One Ostankino due to the latter's closure. [25]
  10. Until 2018 participated as F.Y.R. Macedonia.

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Finland participated in and won the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" written by Mr Lordi. The song was performed by the band Lordi. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Euroviisut 2006 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2006 contest in Athens, Greece. 12 artists with two songs each were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of four semi-finals and a final, taking place in February and March 2006. Twelve entries ultimately competed in the final on 10 March where votes from the public selected "Hard Rock Hallelujah" performed by Lordi as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the song "Why?" written by Mika Toivanen and Steven Stewart. The song was performed by Geir Rönning. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Euroviisut 2005 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2005 contest in Kyiv, Ukraine. 24 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of four semi-finals and a final, taking place in January and February 2005. Six entries competed in each semi-final and the top three from each semi-final, as selected solely by a public vote, advanced to the final. Twelve entries competed in the final on 19 February where votes from six regional juries first selected the top six to advance to a second round. In the second round, votes from the public selected "Why?" performed by Geir Rönning as the winner with 30,648 votes.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with the song "Leave Me Alone" written by Martti Vuorinen and Miikka Huttunen. The song was performed by Hanna Pakarinen. In addition to participating in the contest, the Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) also hosted the Eurovision Song Contest after winning the competition in 2006 with the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" performed by Lordi. Yle organised the national final Euroviisut 2007 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2007 contest in Helsinki. 12 artists with two songs each were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of four semi-finals and a final, taking place in January and February 2007. Twelve entries ultimately competed in the final on 17 February where votes from the public selected "Leave Me Alone" performed by Hanna Pakarinen as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song "Addicted to You" written by Maki Kolehmainen, Janina Frostell and Tracy Lipp. The song was performed by Laura. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after a one-year absence following their relegation from 2001 as one of the bottom six countries in the 2000 contest. Yle organised the national final Euroviisut 2002 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2002 contest in Tallinn, Estonia. Twelve entries were selected to compete in the national final on 26 January 2002 where votes from six regional juries first selected the top six to advance to a second round. In the second round, votes from the public selected "Addicted to You" performed by Laura as the winner with 70,580 votes.

Finland participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Missä miehet ratsastaa" written by Jarkko Ahola. The song was performed by the band Teräsbetoni. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Euroviisut 2008 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2008 contest in Belgrade, Serbia. 12 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of three semi-finals, a Second Chance round and a final, taking place in February and March 2008. Eight entries ultimately competed in the final on 1 March where votes from the public selected "Missä miehet ratsastaa" performed by Teräsbetoni as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 with the song "Bye Bye Baby" written by Kari Salli and Markku Lentonen. The song was performed by the duo CatCat. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Euroviisut 1994 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 1994 contest in Dublin, Ireland. Ten entries were selected to compete in the national final on 5 March 1994 where votes from the public selected "Bye Bye Baby" performed by CatCat as the winner with 25,834 votes.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with the song "A Little Bit" written by Luca Genta and Gerrit aan't Goor. The song was performed by Nina Åström. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after a one-year absence following their relegation from 1999 as one of the six countries with the least average points over the preceding five contests. Yle organised the national final Euroviisut 2000 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2000 contest in Stockholm, Sweden. 12 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of a semi-final and a final, taking place in January and February 2000. The top six from the semi-final, as selected solely by a public vote, advanced to the final. Six entries competed in the final on 12 January where the 50/50 combination of votes from a ten-member expert jury and votes from the public selected "A Little Bit" performed by Nina Åström as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song "Da Da Dam" written by Axel Ehnström. The song was performed by Paradise Oskar, which is the artistic name of singer Axel Ehnström. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Euroviisut 2011 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2011 contest in Düsseldorf, Germany. 15 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of three semi-finals and a final, taking place in January and February 2011. Ten entries ultimately competed in the final on 12 February where votes from the public selected "Da Da Dam" performed by Paradise Oskar as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with the song "När jag blundar" written by Jonas Karlsson. The song was performed by Pernilla Karlsson. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2012 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2012 contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. 13 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of four performance shows and a final, taking place in January and February 2012. Six entries ultimately competed in the final on 25 February where votes from the public selected "När jag blundar" performed by Pernilla Karlsson as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song "Something Better" written by Topi Latukka and Henri Oskár. The song was performed by the band Softengine. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2014 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2014 contest in Copenhagen, Denmark. 12 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of two heats, a semi-final and a final, taking place in January and February 2014. Eight entries ultimately competed in the final on 1 February where the 50/50 combination of votes from a four-member judging panel and votes from the public selected "Something Better" performed by Softengine as the winner.

<i>Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu</i> Finnish TV music contest

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu is an annual music contest organised by the Finnish public broadcaster Yle. It made its debut in 2012 as the Finnish selection format for the Eurovision Song Contest, replacing the previous Finnish Eurovision selection Suomen euroviisukarsinta which had been held since 1961.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Aina mun pitää" written and performed by the band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2015 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2015 contest in Vienna, Austria. 18 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of three semi-finals and a final, taking place in February 2015. Six entries competed in each semi-final and the top three from each semi-final, as selected solely by a public vote, advanced to the final. Nine entries competed in the final on 28 February where the combination of votes from eight jury groups representing different factions of Finnish society and votes from the public selected "Aina mun pitää" performed by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Sing It Away" written by Sandhja Kuivalainen, Milos Rosas, Heikki Korhonen, Petri Matara and Markus Savijoki. The song was performed by Sandhja. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2016 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2016 contest in Stockholm, Sweden. 18 entries were selected to compete in the national final, which consisted of three semi-finals and a final, taking place in February 2016. Six entries competed in each semi-final and the top three from each semi-final, as selected solely by a public vote, advanced to the final. Nine entries competed in the final on 27 February where the 50/50 combination of votes from ten jury groups representing different factions of Finnish society and votes from the public selected "Sing It Away" performed by Sandhja as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "Blackbird" and performed by Lasse Piirainen and Leena Tirronen under the name Norma John. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2017 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2017 contest in Kyiv, Ukraine. Ten entries were selected to compete in the national final on 28 January 2017 where the 50/50 combination of votes from ten international jury groups and votes from the public selected "Blackbird" performed by Norma John as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Monsters" written by Saara Aalto, Joy Deb, Linnea Deb and Ki Fitzgerald. The song was performed by Saara Aalto, who was internally selected by the Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) in November 2017 to represent the nation at the 2018 contest in Lisbon, Portugal. The national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2018 was organised in order to select the song that Aalto would perform. Three songs were selected to compete in the national final on 3 March 2018 where the 50/50 combination of votes from eight international jury groups and votes from the public selected "Monsters" as the winning song.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Look Away" written and performed by Ville Virtanen under the stage name Darude and Sebastian Rejman. Darude and Sebastian Rejman were internally selected by the Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) in January 2019 to represent the nation at the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, Israel. The national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu2019 was organised in order to select the song that Darude and Rejman would perform. Three songs were selected to compete in the national final on 2 March 2019 where the 50/50 combination of votes from eight international jury groups and votes from the public selected "Look Away" as the winning song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Look Away (Darude song)</span> 2019 single by Darude and Sebastian Rejman

"Look Away" is a 2019 single by Darude and Sebastian Rejman. The song represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel after winning Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2019, Finland's national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. The song did not progress to the final, only earning 23 points in the first semi-final.

Finland originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Looking Back" written by Joonas Angeria, Whitney Phillips, Connor McDonough, Riley McDonough and Toby McDonough. The song was performed by Aksel Kankaanranta. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2020 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Six entries were selected to compete in the national final on 7 March 2020 where the 50/50 combination of votes from eight international jury groups and votes from the public selected "Looking Back" performed by Aksel Kankaanranta as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Dark Side" written by Aleksi Kaunisvesi, Joonas Porko, Joel Hokka, Niko Moilanen and Olli Matela. The song was performed by the band Blind Channel. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2021 in order to select the Finnish entry for the 2021 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Seven entries were selected to compete in the national final on 20 February 2021 where the combination of votes from seven international jury groups and votes from the public selected "Dark Side" performed by Blind Channel as the winner.

Finland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom, with the song "Cha Cha Cha" performed by Käärijä. The Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) organised the national final Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu2023 in order to select the Finnish entry for the contest. Seven entries were selected to compete in the national final on 25 February 2023, where the combination of votes from seven international jury groups and votes from the public selected the winner.

References

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