Who are Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen? Meet Finland’s Eurovision 2026 entry

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Finland hasn’t won the Eurovision Song Contest in 20 years, and as the semi-finals begin in 2026, Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen are hoping to bring the win back home.

Parkkonen and Lampenius come from very different musical worlds – she’s a pop singer, and he’s a classical violinist – but they share a common passion: the international song contest.

Finland has competed in Eurovision 57 times, achieving victory only once back in 2006. Can this unexpected duo finally bring a second win to the country?

While we’re waiting to see if Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen will make it to the final, keep reading to discover more about Finland’s plans for Eurovision 2026.

Who are Finland Eurovision 2026 entry Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen?

Instagram: @lindalampeniusofficial and @peteparkkonen

TikTok: @lindalampeniusofficial and @pete.parkkonen

Linda Brava, whose real name is Linda Lampenius, is a well-known classical violinist who began performing with orchestras at the young age of eight. She’s joined by singer Pete Parkkonen, and this marks the first time the two artists have collaborated.

Linda explained how the collaboration happened: she and Pete Parkkonen were aware of each other’s work. While recording her song, she mentioned to the producer that Pete would be her ideal collaborator. Luckily, the producer knew him! A quick phone call and within 24 hours they were working together, and the song was born.

Parkkonen became well-known in 2009 when he competed on the fourth season of Finnish Idol, finishing in third place. Since then, he’s enjoyed a successful music career as a solo artist, with his first album reaching number one in Finland.

Before her music career, Lampenius was a successful model and was see in Elle, Esquire, and GQ.

How old are Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen?

Linda Lampenius is 56 years old and Pete Parkkonen is 36 years old.

What nationality are Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen?

Both performers are from Finland: Pete Parkkonen is from Pihtipudas, and Linda Lampenius is from Helsinki, the capital city.

What have Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen said about representing Finland at Eurovision 2026?

We’re incredibly honored to represent Finland – it’s still sinking in that we even have a chance to win! We’re really excited to perform, and now it’s up to the judges and the public to decide,” said Lampenius and Parkkonen in an interview with The Independent.

What is Finland’s Eurovision 2026 song called?

I’m really excited for Eurovision this year! Finland is sending Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, and their song is called “Liekinheitin” – which is a seriously cool name, and it actually means ‘flamethrower’ in English. Talk about a performance with some fire!

Lampenius and Parkkonen wrote the song with help from Antti Riihimäki, Lauri Halavaara, and Vilma Alina Lähteenmäki.

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Vilma Alina is also a well known Finnish pop singer in her own right.

The band explained that the song is a really emotional one. It’s about leading someone on and letting them fall for you, only to push them away when they start to get close.

The central character in Liekinheitin is portrayed as either someone hurt by another’s actions, or as someone who becomes dependent on others, even knowing the relationship won’t last. This dynamic represents both the intense passion and the destructive desperation between these two individuals.

Where did Finland come in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?

Finland finished in 11th place at the 2025 contest after reaching the final round. Erika Vikman, who represented the country, earned a total score of 196 points.

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The Eurovision Song Contest has received a lot of criticism for letting Israel compete this year, given the current war happening in Gaza.

Several countries are choosing not to participate in the contest this year because the organization in charge, the European Broadcasting Union, decided against banning Israel from competing.

In December 2025, the EBU held a meeting where members voted to create rules preventing governments or outside groups from unfairly boosting certain songs to sway voting results. However, they did not vote on whether Israel would be allowed to participate.

As a huge Eurovision fan, I was really glad to hear the EBU’s announcement. Basically, most of the member broadcasters agreed they didn’t need to revote on whether to hold the contest in 2026. It’s all systems go for 2026 as planned, and they’re putting extra measures in place to make sure everything runs smoothly. It’s a relief to know the show will go on!

After this announcement, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland all stated they would not be competing in Eurovision this year.

Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, has decided not to participate in this year’s contest due to the ongoing loss of life and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They believe it would be inappropriate to participate while civilians continue to be at risk.

The BBC, the UK broadcaster for the competition, stated it backs the EBU’s decision. In a statement, they explained it’s about upholding the rules and ensuring inclusivity.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final will take place on Saturday 16 May 2026.

You can find a complete list of Eurovision winners, as well as see how many times the United Kingdom has been victorious in the competition.

Authors

Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab, where she oversaw their local team. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature from the University of Nottingham.

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2026-05-12 08:47