Who Are Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen? Get to Know Finland’s Eurovision 2026 Entry

The Eurovision Song Contest is heading toward its 70th edition, which will take place in Vienna (Austria) on May 12, 14, and 16 at the Wiener Stadthalle.

The Eurovision season once again featured Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (UMK) as one of the most prominent national selections thanks to its distinctive identity. Seven entries competed on February 28 at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, facing the evaluation of an international jury and televote. Ultimately, Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen with their “Liekinheitin” swept the vote and secured the ticket to Vienna.

How did their collaboration for Eurovision come about? What experience do they have in the music world? How are they preparing their entry for Vienna 2026?

In this edition, we take a look at the musical career of Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen, the context of their candidacy, and their song. Finland’s representatives at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will try to achieve a second victory for their country with “Liekinheitin,” in what will be Finland’s 60th participation in the European contest.

Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen, a deep connection through music

Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen form the duo representing Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, bringing together two very different but complementary careers. Their collaboration was initiated by producer Antti Riihimäki, at Linda’s own suggestion, while she was working on the song “Liekinheitin”. The artistic connection between them emerged immediately in the studio, based on perfectionism and intense emotional involvement, resulting in a stage proposal that combines intimacy, interpretative strength, and a highly detailed visual narrative.

Linda Lampenius, born in Helsinki in 1970, is an internationally renowned violinist with an established career in the classical and crossover fields. Raised in a family of artists, she showed her talent from a very young age and trained at the Sibelius Academy. Throughout her career she has performed across Europe, Asia, and the United States, collaborating with orchestras and prominent figures. Her versatility has allowed her to blend genres such as pop, rock, and jazz, as well as explore fields such as television, fashion, and theatre. Her stage presence and technical virtuosity have made her a widely recognized figure, further reinforced in recent years by renewed popularity in Finland.

Pete Parkkonen, born in 1990, is one of the most well-known pop singers in his country. He rose to fame after participating in Idols, which launched his successful recording career. His debut album reached number one and was certified gold. Over the years, he has evolved his style, moving from English-language pop rock to Finnish-language projects with strong impact. He has also stood out on television, winning shows such as Dancing With The Stars and Tähdet, Tähdet, consolidating his popularity.

The union of both artists represents a generational and stylistic encounter. With “Liekinheitin”, they combine Pete’s vocal power with Linda’s violin virtuosity, creating an emotional and contemporary proposal.

This is “Liekinheitin,” the entry by Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen to represent Finland at Eurovision 2026

“Liekinheitin” (Flamethrower) is the entry by Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen with which they represent Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The song, entirely in Finnish, has been composed by the artists themselves together with Vilma Alina, Lauri Halavaara, and Antti Riihimäki.

It is a track that blends modern Nordic pop with touches of rock and the classical elegance of the violin. This entry stands out for its powerful production, combining Pete Parkkonen’s soul and pop vocals with Linda Lampenius’ intense strings.

Under the metaphor of a “flamethrower,” the song tells the story of an intense, passionate, and at the same time dangerous and destructive romantic relationship. It is a love that “burns,” symbolizing an uncontrolled passion whose attraction is difficult to abandon, even though it causes pain. The protagonists continue “playing with fire,” struggling between reason and desire. All of this unfolds within a whirlwind of extreme emotions: heat and attraction versus coldness and distance, creating an unstable and almost addictive relationship where opposing emotions interact.

Lyrics

Finland at Eurovision: A Quick History

Finland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1961 (the same debut year as Spain) and has only one victory: the one achieved by Lordi in 2006 with “Hard Rock Hallelujah”. The following year it hosted the contest in Helsinki. Its record is modest among the Nordic countries, with only two Top 5 results: the 2006 victory and the second place of Käärijä in 2023 with “Cha Cha Cha”.

Also notable are two sixth places in 1973 and 2021 with the group Blind Channel. Traditionally, it has had irregular results, including several last-place finishes. In 2024 it reached the final with a 19th place for Windows95Man, and in 2025 Erika Vikman finished in 11th place despite being one of the favorites in the grand final.