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Eesti Laul 2026 is done and dusted, and Estonia has picked its next victim – sorry, representative – for Vienna after a brisk, no‑nonsense final (Including a break for the news!)in Tallinn that finally remembered the whole point is the songs, not how many skits you can squeeze between them.
New look, same attitude
ERR kept things sensibly scaled this year: still in the Unibet Arena in Tallinn, still very much a TV show rather than a stadium blow‑out despite about 5,000 mad Estonians in attendance, but all done with a tidied‑up aesthetic and far fewer bells and whistles. The stage was compact, the LEDs worked with the songs rather than screaming over them, and the director mostly resisted the urge to cut every half‑second like a hyperactive TikTok feed.
The Hosts did what they needed to do – Present, link the songs, poke the odd bit of fun, and get out of the way. There were fewer forced comedy packages and more time given to the performances and green‑room reactions, That Green room being on the arena floor in full view of everyone, and it which made the whole thing feel more like a music show and less like a variety hour that occasionally lets a song through the door.
Songs and performers
Twelve songs fought it out for the ticket to Eurovision, and the line‑up was a very strong Eesti Laul with a bit of everything, some familiar faces including the King of Estonia himself, Stig, and a handful of newer names trying to crash the party.
After the news, the international jury had it’s say reducing the 12 songs down to three who went again in a televote only superfinal. Those results you say?
| Song | Performer(s) | Jury | Pts | Televote | Total | 2nd Round | Psn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jolly Roger | Clicherik & Mäx | 25 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 7 | |
| Metsik roos | Robert Linna | 30 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 11 | |
| Taevas jäi üles | Grete Paia | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 10 | |
| Warrior | Laura Prits | 31 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 9 | |
| Rhythm of Nature | Uliana Olhyna | 24 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | |
| Slave | Ollie | 65 | 12 | Q | 3 | ||
| Kell kuus | Marta Pikani | 19 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | |
| Days Like This | NOËP | 56 | 9 | Q | 2 | ||
| The Game | Getter Jaani | 42 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 5 | |
| Wounds (Don’t Wanna Fall) | ANT x Minimal Wind | 58 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 6 | |
| Too Epic to Be True | Vanilla Ninja | 37 | 7 | Q | 1 | ||
| Last Man Standing | Stockholm Cowboys (Stig Rästa & Victor Crone) | 63 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 4 |
Any one of about six songs could well have done well in Vienna, it really was that strong a final – Unfortunately they sent Vanilla Ninja on their name only, cos the song is a right pile of old beige but, hey, however you win, I guess, but I am definitely going to fall out with some Estonians after this result! (and possibly an Aussie as well).
