UMK – The Contest for New Music – is Yle’s open song contest for all musicians and music makers in Finland and abroad. The application period for UMK27 kicks off in August, and the application form will be available at yle.fi/umk from 17 to 23 August 2026. Now’s the perfect time to read through the rules and start polishing your entry! The UMK27 competition will be held in Tampere at the Nokia Arena on February 20, 2027.

UMK is Finland's biggest music competition and a central platform for Finnish music. UMK finalists frequently dominate streaming charts and radio playlists. In 2023, Käärijä became a global sensation, and in 2024, Windows95man took the stage by a denim storm. In 2025 Europe came together with Erika Vikman's iconic Ich komme. And now we're excited to see how well Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen will do this year.

But the journey doesn’t stop here — UMK continues to evolve. With the competition held at the iconic Nokia Arena, the shows have grown into major entertainment events, selling out in mere hours. Could you be the next artist to leave your mark in Finnish and European music history? If so, mark your calendar and get your song ready!

The official rules for UMK26 have now been published. Read them carefully and make sure your song and materials are ready by the application window in August.

UMK has served as Finland’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2012.