Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius Release UMK Entry 'Liekinheitin'

Finnish musicians Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius have released their entry for the Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) song contest. The song, titled 'Liekinheitin,' was made public on January 15. The track is now part of the official lineup for UMK 2026, which will select Finland's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest. The release has generated significant online interest, driving over 2,000 searches according to data from a predictive engine. Parkkonen and Lampenius are established figures in the Finnish music scene, and their collaboration for the national selection process is a notable development. The full roster of competing artists and songs for UMK 2026 has now been announced. Public reaction to 'Liekinheitin' has begun to surface on social media and music platforms. The UMK competition, organized by national broadcaster Yle, is a major cultural event in Finland each year. The winner of the national final will go on to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. The release of the competing songs marks the start of the public voting and evaluation period. Further details about the live shows and voting procedures are expected from Yle in the coming months.