Eesti Laul 2027 opens with new Eurovision choice for winners

Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) has opened submissions for Eesti Laul 2027, with the competition final scheduled for Jan. 30 at Unibet Arena. The winner’s authors will have the option of deciding whether to represent Estonia at Eurovision.

Entries can be submitted until noon on Oct. 8. Producer Riin Vann urged participants to consider their vocal and stage performances as a complete package from the outset, even though the preliminary jury will judge the songs without seeing the performers.

The final will feature 12 songs selected by a jury of at least 25 members. Three songs will advance to the superfinal, where the winner will be chosen by a public vote.

For the first time, ERR is giving the authors of the winning song the opportunity to decide whether they want to represent Estonia at Eurovision. ERR head of entertainment programmes Karmel Killandi said Eurovision offers artists the chance to reach millions of television viewers, but also requires months of preparation, detailed planning and significant financial investment.

Songs may be submitted by authors and performers from Estonia and abroad, but each entry must include at least one author who is an Estonian citizen or resident. Both performers and authors may participate in up to five songs.

Under Eurovision rules, the age limit has also been raised. No performer may have been born after May 1, 2009.

Until Oct. 5, the entry fee is 50 euros for a song in Estonian and 100 euros for a foreign-language or multilingual song. After that date, the fees will be 150 euros and 250 euros respectively.

The winning song’s authors will receive a 10,000-euro prize from the Estonian Authors’ Society. Authors of the second- and third-place songs will receive 3,000 euros and 2,000 euros respectively.

The Estonian Performers’ Union will award performers of the first-place song a total scholarship of 1,000 euros. Performers of the second- and third-place songs will receive scholarships of 2,000 euros and 3,000 euros respectively.

The Estonian Phonogram Producers’ Association will pay the producer of the winning song’s phonogram 3,000 euros.

The rules, schedule and submission information are available at eestilaul.ee.