Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Participating broadcaster| Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR; 2008–present)

Formerly

* Eesti Televisioon (ETV; 1993–2007)

Participation summary
Appearances| 29 (19 finals)
First appearance| 1994
Highest placement| 1st: 2001
Host| 2002

Participation history

*     *  ~~1993~~
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006

* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013

* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
*  ~~2020~~

* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Related articles
Eesti Laul
External links
ERR page
Estonia's page at Eurovision.tv
For the most recent participation see
Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Estonia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 29 times since making its debut in 1994. Its first appearance would have taken place in 1993 but a qualification round was installed for seven former Eastern Bloc countries hoping to make their debut in the contest, with Estonia failing to qualify. Estonia has won the contest once, in 2001. The current Estonian participant broadcaster in the contest is Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR).

Estonia's first participation in 1994 was unsuccessful, finishing 24th (out of 25). Estonia went on to finish in the top eight in six out of seven contests (1996–2002), with "Kaelakee hääl" by Maarja-Liis Ilus and Ivo Linna fifth (1996), Maarja-Liis Ilus returning to finish eighth with "Keelatud maa" (1997), "Diamond of Night" by Evelin Samuel and Camille sixth (1999), and "Once in a Lifetime" by Ines fourth (2000), before "Everybody" by Tanel Padar, Dave Benton, and 2XL gave Estonia its first victory in 2001. With this, Estonia became the first of the new countries that joined Eurovision in the 1990s and won the contest. "Runaway" by Sahlene then finished third for the hosts in Tallinn in 2002.

Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Estonia has failed to reach the final on ten occasions and has reached the top ten five times, with "Rändajad" by Urban Symphony sixth (2009), "Kuula" by Ott Lepland sixth (2012), "Goodbye to Yesterday" by Elina Born and Stig Rästa seventh (2015), "La forza" by Elina Nechayeva eighth (2018), and "Bridges" by Alika eighth (2023). Estonia's total of eleven top ten results is more than any other Baltic country.

## History

[edit]

Eesti Televisioon (ETV) was a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1 January 1993, thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest since then. It participated in the contest representing Estonia since its 39th edition in 1994. Since 2008, after a restructuring that led to the incorporation of ETV into the current Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) organisation, it is the latter who participates representing Estonia.

Estonia finished 24th (out of 25) on its debut in 1994 and was relegated from the following year's contest. Estonia's record at the contest was a successful one from 1996 to 2002, only failing once to make the top 10 (in 1998 when it ended up in 12th place). Maarja-Liis Ilus and Ivo Linna's fifth-place in 1996 was the first top five ranking for any country, formerly annexed by Soviet Union and therefore unable to participate. Ilus returned to finish eighth in 1997.

The country's first win came in 2001, when Tanel Padar and Dave Benton, along with 2XL, sang "Everybody" and received 198 points, therefore making Estonia the first formerly USSR-annexed country to win the Contest. The 2002 contest was held in Estonia, in the capital city Tallinn, where Sahlene finished third for the hosts (tied with the UK).

From 2004 to 2008 Estonia failed to qualify to the finals, mostly receiving poor results – during that period its best entry was 11th place in the 2004 semi-final by Neiokõsõ with "Tii", sung in the Võro language.

Despite news that Estonia might withdraw from the 2009 contest (set to be held in Moscow, Russia) due to the war in South Ossetia, Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) confirmed that due to public demand, Estonia would send an entry to Moscow.[1][2] After a new national final, Eesti Laul, was introduced to select the Estonian entry, the winner was Urban Symphony with "Rändajad", which had beaten the televoting favourite, Laura, by the votes of a jury.[3][4]

At the second semi-final of the 2009 contest, Urban Symphony qualified Estonia to the final of the contest for the first time since 2003, receiving 115 points and placing 3rd. The group performed 15th in the final, where it received 129 points, placing 6th out of 25 competing entries as well as being the highest placing non-English language song at the 2009 competition.

In 2010, Estonia failed to qualify to the final, with the song "Siren" by Malcolm Lincoln.

In 2011, Estonia was represented by Getter Jaani with the song "Rockefeller Street". She was the bookmakers' pre-contest favorite for victory along with France. She qualified to the final but eventually placed 24th of 25 entries- tying Silvi Vrait's 1994 result for Estonia's worst placing in the contest final.

Since 2012, Estonia has achieved four more top ten results. Ott Lepland qualified Estonia to the final of the 2012 contest, with his song "Kuula", ending up 4th in the second semi-final. In the final, he equalled Estonia's result of 1999 and 2009, placing 6th. Elina Born and Stig Rästa finished seventh in 2015. Elina Nechayeva and Alika finished eighth in 2018 and 2023, respectively.

## Participation overview

[edit]

Table key  1  | First place

|

3  | Third place
◁  | Last place
X | Entry selected but did not compete
† | Upcoming event
Year  | Artist  | Song  | Language  | Final  | Points  | Semi  | Points

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1993 | Janika Sillamaa | "Muretut meelt ja südametuld"  | Estonian | Failed to qualify[a] X | 5  | 47
1994 | Silvi Vrait | "Nagu merelaine"  | Estonian  | 24  | 2  | No semi-finals
1996 | Maarja-Liis Ilus and Ivo Linna | "Kaelakee hääl"  | Estonian  | 5  | 94  | 5  | 106
1997 | Maarja  | "Keelatud maa"  | Estonian  | 8  | 82  | No semi-finals
1998 | Koit Toome | "Mere lapsed"  | Estonian  | 12  | 36
1999 | Evelin Samuel and Camille | "Diamond of Night"  | English  | 6  | 90
2000 | Ines | "Once in a Lifetime"  | English  | 4  | 98
2001 | Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL | "Everybody"  | English  | 1  | 198
2002 | Sahlene | "Runaway"  | English  | 3  | 111
2003 | Ruffus | "Eighties Coming Back"  | English  | 21  | 14
2004 | Neiokõsõ | "Tii"  | Võro | Failed to qualify  | 11  | 57
2005 | Suntribe | "Let's Get Loud"  | English  | 20  | 31
2006 | Sandra | "Through My Window"  | English  | 18  | 28
2007 | Gerli Padar | "Partners in Crime"  | English  | 22  | 33
2008 | Kreisiraadio | "Leto svet"  | Serbian, German, Finnish | 18  | 8
2009 | Urban Symphony | "Rändajad"  | Estonian  | 6  | 129  | 3  | 115
2010 | Malcolm Lincoln | "Siren"  | English  | Failed to qualify  | 14  | 39
2011 | Getter Jaani | "Rockefeller Street"  | English  | 24  | 44  | 9  | 60
2012 | Ott Lepland | "Kuula"  | Estonian  | 6  | 120  | 4  | 100
2013 | Birgit | "Et uus saaks alguse"  | Estonian  | 20  | 19  | 10  | 52
2014 | Tanja | "Amazing"  | English  | Failed to qualify  | 12  | 36
2015 | Elina Born and Stig Rästa | "Goodbye to Yesterday"  | English  | 7  | 106  | 3  | 105
2016 | Jüri Pootsmann | "Play"  | English  | Failed to qualify  | 18 ◁  | 24
2017 | Koit Toome and Laura | "Verona"  | English  | 14  | 85
2018 | Elina Nechayeva | "La forza"  | Italian | 8  | 245  | 5  | 201
2019 | Victor Crone | "Storm"  | English  | 20  | 76  | 4  | 198
2020 | Uku Suviste | "What Love Is"  | English  | Contest cancelled[b] X
2021 | Uku Suviste  | "The Lucky One"  | English  | Failed to qualify  | 13  | 58
2022 | Stefan | "Hope"  | English  | 13  | 141  | 5  | 209
2023 | Alika | "Bridges"  | English  | 8  | 168  | 10  | 74
2024 | 5miinust and Puuluup | "(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi"  | Estonian  | 20  | 37  | 6  | 79
2025 | TBD February 2025 †[5] | Upcoming †

## Songs by language

[edit]

English (59.38%)

Estonian (25%)

Võro (3.13%)

Serbian (3.13%)

German (3.13%)

Finnish (3.13%)

Italian (3.13%)

Songs  | Language  | Years

|
|

19  | English  | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, ~~2020~~ , 2021, 2022, 2023
9  | Estonian | 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2024
1  | Võro | 2004
1  | Serbian | 2008
1  | German | 2008
1  | Finnish | 2008
1  | Italian | 2018

## Hostings

[edit]

Year  | Location  | Venue  | Presenters

|
|
|

2002 | Tallinn | Saku Suurhall | Annely Peebo and Marko Matvere

## Related involvement

[edit]

### Conductors

[edit]

Year  | Conductor  | Notes  | Ref.

|
|
|

1993 | Peeter Lilje  | [c] |
1994 | Urmas Lattikas  |  |
1996 | Tarmo Leinatamm  |  |
1997 |  |
1998 | Heiki Vahar  |  |

### Heads of delegation

[edit]

Each participating broadcaster in the Eurovision Song Contest assigns a head of delegation as the EBU's contact person and the leader of their delegation at the event. The delegation, whose size can greatly vary, includes a head of press, the performers, songwriters, composers, and backing vocalists, among others.[6]

Year  | Head of delegation  | Ref.

|
|

1997–2008 | Juhan Paadam  |

[7]

2009–2015 | Heidy Purga  |

[7]

2015–2018 | Mart Normet  |

[8]

2019–2023 | Tomi Rahula |

[9]

2024–  | Riin Vann  |

[10]

### Costume designers

[edit]

Year  | Costume designers  | Ref.

|
|

2013 | Karolin Kuusik  |

[11]

### Commentators and spokespersons

[edit]

Year  | Television commentator  | Radio commentator  | Russian commentator  | Spokesperson  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

1992 | Ivo Linna and Olavi Pihlamägi [et] | Unknown  | No broadcast  | Did not participate  | [12][13]
1993 | Unknown | [14]
1994 | Vello Rand | Marko Reikop (Raadio 2) | Urve Tiidus |
1995 | Jüri Pihel | No broadcast | Did not participate |
1996 | Marko Reikop (Raadio 2) | Annika Talvik |
1997 | Helene Tedre |
1998 | Reet Linna | Urve Tiidus |
1999 | Marko Reikop | Vello Rand (Raadio 2) | Mart Sander |
2000 | Evelin Samuel |
2001 | Ilo-Mai Küttim (Elektra) |
2002 |
2003 | Ines |
2004 | Maarja-Liis Ilus |
2005 | Mart Juur (Raadio 2)
Andrus Kivirähk (Raadio 2) |
2006 | Evelin Samuel |
2007 | Laura Põldvere |
2008 | Sahlene |
2009 | Marko Reikop and Olav Osolin (final) | Laura Põldvere |
2010 | Marko Reikop and Sven Lõhmus (final) | Rolf Roosalu |
2011 | Marko Reikop | Piret Järvis |
2012 | Ilja Ban, Dmitri Vinogradov and
Aleksandra Moorast (Raadio 4) | Getter Jaani |
2013 | No broadcast | Rolf Roosalu |
2014 | Lauri Pihlap |
2015 | Tanja |
2016 | Aleksandr Hobotov | Daniel Levi Viinalass |
2017 | Aleksandr Hobotov and Julia Kalenda | Jüri Pootsmann |
2018 | Ott Evestus |
2019 | No broadcast | Kelly Sildaru |
2021 | Sissi Benita |

[15][16]

2022 | Tanel Padar |
2023 | Ragnar Klavan |

[17][18]

2024 | Birgit Sarrap |

[19][20]

## Photo gallery

[edit]

* Neiokõsõ in Istanbul (2004)

* Sandra Oxenryd in Athens (2006)

* Gerli Padar in Helsinki (2007)

* Kreisiraadio in Belgrade (2008)

* Urban Symphony in Moscow (2009)

* Malcolm Lincoln in Oslo (2010)

* Birgit Õigemeel in Malmö (2013)

* Tanja in Copenhagen (2014)

* Elina Born and Stig Rästa in Vienna (2015)

* Jüri Pootsmann in Stockholm (2016)

* Koit Toome and Laura in Kyiv (2017)

* Elina Nechayeva in Lisbon (2018)

* Victor Crone in Tel Aviv (2019)

* Stefan in Turin (2022)

* Alika in Liverpool (2023)

* 5miinust and Puuluup in Malmö (2024)

## See also

[edit]

* Estonia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
* Estonia in the Eurovision Young Dancers
* Estonia in the Eurovision Young Musicians

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ A qualifying round was held for new countries looking to make their debut at the 1993 contest. Estonia failed to progress from this round; entries which failed to progress have subsequently been discounted by the EBU and do not feature as part of the countries' list of appearances.
2. ^ The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. ^ Conducted the Estonian entry at Kvalifikacija za Millstreet.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Floras, Stella (2008-08-22). "Estonia: Minister discusses possible boycott of Eurovision in Moscow". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
2. ^ Floras, Stella (2008-09-17). "Estonia will participate in 2009". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
3. ^ Calleja Bayliss, Marc (2009-03-07). "Urban Symphony to represent Estonia in Moscow". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
4. ^ Webb, Glen (2009-03-07). "Urban Symphony win Eesti Laul in Estonia". EBU. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
5. ^ "Laulukonkursi "Eesti Laul 2025" reglement" [Regulations of the song contest "Eesti Laul 2025"] (in Estonian). ERR. 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
6. ^ "Heads of Delegation". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
7. ^ a b "FOTOD: Legendaarne eurolaulu produtsent Juhan Paadam köitis oma mälestused üheks suureks raamatuks". kroonika.delfi.ee. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
8. ^ Welsh, Eleanor (22 January 2018). "Estonia: Head of Delegation Mart Normet to step down after Lisbon 2018". esctoday.com. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
9. ^ Maddalozzo, Riccardo (23 June 2018). "Estonia: ERR appoints Tomi Rahula as new head of Eesti Laul". escxtra.com. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
10. ^ Kuningas, Rasmus (29 April 2024). "Marko Veisson: loodetavasti ei sünni Eurovisiooni laval kaost". menu.err.ee. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
11. ^ Eleanor Cooper (May 4, 2013). "Estonia: Birgit reveals her outfit for Malmö". esctoday.com.
12. ^ "Televisiooni nädalakava 4. mai–10. mai" [Television weekly schedule 4 May–10 May]. Päevaleht (in Estonian). 1 May 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 28 October 2022 - via DIGAR Eesti artiklid.
13. ^ "ETV 1992 | ajalugu". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
14. ^ "Televisiooni nädalakava 10. mai – 16. mai". Päevaleht (in Estonian). 10 May 1993. pp. 14–15. Retrieved 28 October 2022 - via DIGAR Eesti artiklid.
15. ^ ERR (2021-05-18). "Eurovisiooni lauluvõistlus 2021 | ETV". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2021-05-07.
16. ^ ERR (2021-05-18). "Евровидение-2021 | ETV+". ERR (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-05-07.
17. ^ Granger, Anthony (2023-01-05). "Estonia: ERR Eurovision 2023 Coverage Revealed". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
18. ^ "Eesti punktid Eurovisioonil edastab sel aastal Ragnar Klavan". err.ee (in Estonian). ERR. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
19. ^ Conte, Davide (2024-04-27). "Estonia: Estonian and Russian Commentators for Eurovision 2024 Announced". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
20. ^ Avelino, Gerry (9 May 2024). "Estonia: Birgit Announced as Spokesperson for Eurovision 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 9 May 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest

National selection: Eesti Laul

Participation|

* ~~1993~~
* 1994
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Artists|

* 2XL
* 5miinust
* Alika
* Dave Benton
* Birgit
* Elina Born
* Camille
* Victor Crone
* Maarja-Liis Ilus
* Ines
* Getter Jaani
* Kreisiraadio
* Laura
* Ott Lepland
* Ivo Linna
* Malcolm Lincoln
* Elina Nechayeva
* Neiokõsõ
* Sandra Oxenryd
* Gerli Padar
* Tanel Padar
* Jüri Pootsmann
* Puuluup
* Stig Rästa
* Ruffus
* Sahlene
* Evelin Samuel
* ~~Janika Sillamaa~~
* Stefan
* Suntribe
* Uku Suviste
* Tanja
* Koit Toome
* Urban Symphony
* Silvi Vrait

Songs|

* "Amazing"
* "Bridges"
* "Diamond of Night"
* "Eighties Coming Back"
* "Et uus saaks alguse"
* "Everybody"
* "La forza"
* "Goodbye to Yesterday"
* "Hope"
* "Kaelakee hääl"
* "Keelatud maa"
* "Kuula"
* "Let's Get Loud"
* "Leto svet"
* "The Lucky One"
* "Mere lapsed"
* ~~" Muretut meelt ja südametuld"~~
* "Nagu merelaine"
* "(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi"
* "Once in a Lifetime"
* "Partners in Crime"
* "Play"
* "Rändajad"
* "Rockefeller Street"
* "Runaway"
* "Siren"
* "Storm"
* "Through My Window"
* "Tii"
* "Verona"
* ~~"What Love Is"~~

Note: Entries scored out signify where Estonia did not compete. Italics indicate an entry in a future contest.

* v
* t
* e

Eurovision Song Contest

* Entries
* 1956–2003
* 2004–present
* History
* Host cities
* Languages
* LGBT visibility
* LGBT participants
* Political controversies
* Presenters
* Rules
* Voting
* Winners
* Discography

Contests|

* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
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* 1978
* 1979
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* 1987
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* 1989
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* 1998
* 1999
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* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Countries|

| Active|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Australia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belgium
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Israel
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

|

Inactive|

* Andorra
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Hungary
* Monaco
* Morocco
* North Macedonia
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Turkey

Ineligible|

* Belarus
* Russia

Former|

* Serbia and Montenegro
* Yugoslavia

Debut attempts|

* Lebanon
* Liechtenstein
* Tunisia

Relations|

* Armenia–Azerbaijan
* Russia–Ukraine

National
selections|

| Current|

* Albania
* Armenia
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Israel
* Italy
* Latvia
* Norway
* Portugal
* Serbia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Ukraine

|

Former|

* Australia
* Georgia
* Geostar
* The Voice Georgia
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy
* Israel
* Israel Song Festival
* Kdam Eurovision
* The X Factor Israel
* Malta
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Poland
* Krajowe Eliminacje
* Szansa na Sukces
* Russia
* Serbia and Montenegro
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Spain
* United Kingdom
* Yugoslavia

Other awards|

* Marcel Bezençon Awards
* OGAE
* OGAE Second Chance Contest
* Barbara Dex Award (1997–2021)
* You're a Vision Award (2022–)

Special shows|

| EBU|

* Eurovision Song Contest Previews
* Songs of Europe (1981)
* Kvalifikacija za Millstreet (1993)
* Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest (2005)
* Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits (2015)
* EurovisionAgain (2020–2021)
* Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light (2020)

|

National|

* Die Grand Prix Hitliste (2006)
* Het Grote Songfestivalfeest (2019, 2022–)
* Der kleine Song Contest (2020)
* ESC 2020 – das deutsche Finale (2020)
* Eurovision: Come Together (2020)
* Sveriges 12:a (2020)

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz series

|

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