Lordi self-confirm for Eurovision 2026 Grand Final performance

Former Eurovision winners Lordi are set to perform at this year's grand final. Picture: Facebook.

Twenty years after their triumph in Athens, Finland's first and only Eurovision winners are set to celebrate their anniversary with an appearance at the grand final of this year's contest.

Lordi, the much-loved metal monsters who won in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah, announced on their Instagram page they will be performing at the event on Saturday 16 May - telling fans "See you in Vienna!"

While their apprearance is yet to be officially announced by organisers, Finnish host broadcaster YLE has also reported the news of Lordi's performance, adding that Finland's representative from last year's contest in Basel, Erika Vikman, will also take to the stage.

The only confirmed details we have so far from the EBU is the grand final interval act is will be a 'Celebration' containing a selection of 'Eurovision Allstars' performing iconic songs from the contest's history, as part of its 70th anniversary. In its announcement late last week, it stated more details would be revealed soon.

Finland's memorable 2006 victory

Whether its part of the interval act or elsewhere in the show, it is fitting that Lordi will be part of the grand final celebrations, given the 20th anniversary of their win from the 2006 contest.

Hard Rock Hallelujah triumphed with a total of 292 points, which included eight sets of 12 points from voting countries. Russia's Dima Bilan was second on 248 points with Never Let You Go, while Bosnia and Herzegovina's Lejla was third on 229 points with Hari Mata Hari.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAh9NRGNhUU

Lordi has previously been a grand final interval act in 2021, where they appropriately performed on a rooftop of a Rotterdam building, given the contest was held under tight Covid-19 protocols. Frontman Mr. Lordi has also previously read Finland's votes in other editions of the contest.

Is 20 years a charm for another victory?

Finland has been knocking on the door for their second Eurovision triumph with some solid performances this decade. The most notable was Käärijä who finished runner-up in the 2023 contest in Liverpool with Cha Cha Cha, which won the public vote.

Metal group Blind Channel finished 6th with Dark Side in the 2021 contest in Rotterdam, while Erika Vikman finished 11th last year with Ich Komme.

The country's 2026 representatives, Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen, are currently bookies' favourites to triumph at this year's contest with Liekinheitin. Could Lordi be on hand for one big Finnish party in Vienna? We'll have to wait and see...

Finland will compete in the first Semi-final of Eurovision 2026, to be held in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday 12 May.

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