Estonia: Eesti Laul 2027 reveals 12 finalists after 155 songs submitted

A total of 155 songs were submitted for the 2027 edition of Eesti Laul, with 12 now selected to compete in the final on 30 January at Tallinn's Unibet Arena.

Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) has announced the 12 acts selected for Eesti Laul 2027. The 19th edition of the competition will conclude with a live show on 30 January 2027, at the Unibet Arena in Tallinn, where the finalists will compete for this year's title.

The selection process began with an open call for submissions, which ran from 4 September until 8 October. ERR received 155 songs from more than 20 countries, with 60 entries performed in Estonian and 95 in other languages. One submission even featured an entirely invented language.

How Were the 12 Finalists Selected?

A 40-member jury was responsible for evaluating the submissions and selecting the finalists. The panel brought together musicians, composers, performers, radio and television professionals, music industry representatives and listeners from different age groups and backgrounds.

Among its members were familiar names from the Estonian music scene, including ALIKA, Birgit Sarrap, Getter Jaani, Jüri Pootsmann, Ott Lepland and Merlyn Uusküla.

The evaluation was conducted anonymously: jury members were not given information about the identities of the performers or songwriters behind the submitted entries. The aim was to assess the music independently of the people associated with it.

Following the voting process, 12 songs secured a place in the final. Two additional entries were also selected as reserves, should any of the finalists need to withdraw. The results were announced on 22 October, without revealing the individual jury scores or the ranking of the selected songs.

The Eesti Laul 2027 Finalists

1. Daniel Levi — 'Dust'
2. Jaagup Tuisk and WANDA — 'Kesk öö musta merd'
3. Johanna Elise — 'Getaway Car'
4. Kerli Kivilaan — 'When the World Is Over'
5. Laura — 'Metsapiiga'
6. M Els x J-Run — 'HUSH HUSH'
7. Ollie — 'Sad Every Day'
8. Pale Alison x Minimal Wind — 'Superhuman'
9. Panørama, Vemka and Hans Markus — 'Reflection'
10. Rita Ray — 'Don't You Agree'
11. Zetod feat. Hellika — 'Kipõ-kipõ'
12. Traffic — 'Laava'

The line-up includes several artists who are no strangers to Eesti Laul. Laura and Traffic, in particular, return with considerable experience in the competition, while Ollie, Jaagup Tuisk, M els, Johanna Elise and Daniel Levi are also among the recognisable names in this year's selection.

There are also several collaborative projects in the running, including Jaagup Tuisk and WANDA, M Els x J-Run, and Panørama, Vemka and Hans Markus.

Song Releases and Final Format

The 12 competing songs are scheduled to be released by ERR no later than 27 November 2026. This will give the public just over two months to become familiar with the entries before the final.

On 30 January, all 12 acts will perform live at the Unibet Arena. The voting will take place in two rounds.

In the first round, the jury and the public will each account for 50% of the overall result. Their combined votes will determine the three entries advancing to the superfinal.

The final decision will belong entirely to the public, with televoting deciding the winner among the remaining three acts.

Koit Toome and Eda-Ines Etti will host the show, bringing the 2027 edition to a close in front of the Tallinn audience.

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