Representatives of Finland – the duet of violinist Linda Lampenius and singer Pete Parkkonen – performed at the grand final of Eurovision 2026 on May 16 in Vienna, Austria. The artists, who were predicted by bookmakers to take first place in the competition, performed the pop ballad in Finnish Liekinheitin and took fifth place overall, scoring 141 points.
Lampenius commented on her defeat on Instagram on May 17.
“What an unforgettable trip! Thank you all for the love,” she wrote.
The violinist also addressed the representative of Bulgaria.
“Huge congratulations,” she wrote.
Eurovision 2018 winner Alexander Rybak, who represented Norway, reacted to Lampenius’s post.
“Your performance tonight was incredible and will forever be remembered as an outstanding Eurovision performance,” he wrote.
The initiator of this duet and their further participation in the competition was the violinist, notes ESC Insight. The highlight of the performance and the most anticipated moment of the entire competition, the publication says, is “the divine defile on stage of the most famous violinist in Europe,” and the agreement of the organizers that she play the violin live during this defile “strengthens the impression 10 times.”
