Estonia's Eurovision 2026 National Final: Eesti Laul
Estonia will select its act for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 through the national final Eesti Laul on February 14, 2026. The final will feature 12 performers, including Ukrainian singer Uliana Olgina. The competition is heightened by the presence of several former Eurovision participants. The selection process involves a two-stage voting system: an initial round scored by both a jury and the public, followed by a final round where only public votes decide the winner from the top three contenders.
Estonia's Track Record at Eurovision
Estonia has participated in Eurovision since 1993, missing only the 1995 contest. The country scored a mere 2 points in its 1994 debut. In recent years, Estonia has consistently reached the Eurovision final, with its only failure to qualify occurring in 2021 since 2018. The national selection show, known as Eesti Laul, has been the primary method for choosing Estonia's entry since its inception as Eurolaul, a name it held until 2009.
The Eesti Laul 2026 final lineup includes notable artists with prior Eurovision experience, such as:
- Vanilla Ninja (Switzerland, 2005)
- Getter Jaani (Estonia, 2011)
- Stig Rästa (Estonia, 2015)
- Victor Crone (Estonia, 2019)
Oliver Mazurczak (Ollie), who placed second in the Eesti Laul 2023 superfinal, is also competing. The final will be broadcast live on the ETV channel, starting at 19:30 local time.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is scheduled for May 12, 14, and 16 in Vienna. However, the 2026 contest may see the lowest number of participating countries in two decades, as Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands have announced a boycott over Israel's participation. It is noteworthy that a vote on Israel's participation was not held at the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) general assembly; instead, members voted on new rules regarding governmental promotion of songs.
Voting during the Eesti Laul final will be conducted in two phases: the first phase allocates 50% of the score to the jury and 50% to the public. In the second phase, the top three acts will be decided by public vote alone. International viewers will be able to vote online for approximately one euro.
The running order for the Eesti Laul 2026 finalists is as follows:
- Clicherik & Mäx – Jolly Roger
- Robert Linna – Metsik roos
- Grete Paia – Taevas jäi üles
- Laura Prits – Warrior
- Uliana – Rhythm Of Nature
- Ollie – Slave
- Marta Pikani – Kell kuus
- Noëp – Days Like This
- Getter Jaani – The Game
- Ant & Minimal Wind – Wounds (Don't Wanna Fall)
- Vanilla Ninja – Too Epic To Be True
- Stockholm Cowboys – Last Man Standing
Eesti Laul is a significant event in Estonia's cultural calendar, not only determining the nation's Eurovision hopeful but also showcasing a diverse array of local talent. The inclusion of established artists boosts viewer interest and creates a highly competitive atmosphere. The Eurovision contest itself, however, faces potential challenges to its scale and global appeal due to the announced boycotts by several nations.