Finland
The basics Full country name Republic of Finland Capital Helsinki Facts First participation 1961 (Laila Kinnunen) Victories 2006 (Lordi) Hosts Helsinki 2007
Finland made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961. The capital, Helsinki, lies on the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Finland made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 but had never placed in the top five until Lordi won the contest in 2006. The country has finished last on ten occasions (nine times in the Grand Final and more recently in the Semi-Final in 2015) but has finished inside the top ten on 12 occasions.
Finland's victory in 2006 saw thousands of people gather in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, honking car horns, waving flags and singing Lordi's song. It was a moment of celebration for a country that had never come close to victory in the Eurovision Song Contest, a testament to the country's perseverance. Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat proclaimed: "It's official: Hell has frozen over. Finland has won".
