The Finnish national broadcaster has confirmed its participation at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest and has announced on its official website that it will yet again opt for UMK as the mechanism to select the 2016 Finnish Eurovision entry and act.

UMK, has proven to be a successful mechanism for YLE in order to select its Eurovision act and entry in the previous years. The Finnish national selection has also played a key role in showcasing local talent, bands and artists not only in Finland but overseas.

Hence Finland is among the first countries to confirm its participation at the forthcoming 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden and reveal its plans. Submission period for UMK 2016 will kick off on 01 September.

In 2015 Finland was represented by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät, who despite being among the bookies favorites to qualify to the grand final, failed to do so.

The preliminary dates of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest have been set on 10,12 and 14 May.

Finland debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 with Laura Kinnunen , the country has won the event only once, namely in 2006 with Lordi‘s Hard Rock Hallelujah. In 2007 Finland successfully hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki.

Stay tuned to ESCToday for the latest news on Finland and the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.