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Estonia first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. In the preceding year of 1993, there was an international pre-selection event held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, aimed at selecting three songs for the available slots in the contest in Millstreet, Ireland. Despite Janika’s performance of the Estonian entry „Muretut meelt ja südametuld,“ it didn’t qualify. Consequently, Estonia officially debuted one year later in 1994 with Silvi Vrait and the song „Nagu Merelaine,“ which unfortunately landed a disappointing 24th place with only 2 points. Nonetheless, the trajectory swiftly changed thereafter.

Estonia clinched its inaugural victory in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2001 with the song „Everybody,“ delivered by Tanel Padar and Dave Benton, alongside 2XL. This triumph marked a significant milestone not only for Estonia but also for Eastern Europe, marking the first occasion an Eastern European nation secured victory in the competition.

Tanel and Dave’s victory came as a surprise to many viewers and bookmakers since Estonia wasn’t initially considered one of the favorites to win. However, the infectious and lively soul anthem „Everybody“ managed to captivate both the jury and the public, earning Estonia an unforgettable spot in Eurovision history.

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Following Estonia’s triumph in the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest, the Estonian broadcaster ETV introduced a national competition titled „Eesti Laul“ to determine their entry for the subsequent year’s contest. This competition has since evolved into a beloved event in Estonia, serving as a platform for showcasing various contemporary and experimental music styles.

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Estonia, despite its modest size, boasts a vibrant music scene, with the Eesti Laul competition playing a significant role in showcasing the country’s creative and forward-looking ethos. Renowned for its excellence, the competition consistently produces music of exceptional quality, mirroring the diversity and ingenuity of Estonian culture. By nurturing emerging talent and fostering originality, Eesti Laul has firmly established Estonia as a focal point for musical innovation in the region, solidifying its reputation as a hub of musical prowess and creativity.

The passion and ingenuity displayed by Estonian artists and songwriters consistently serve as a source of inspiration for other participating countries in the Eurovision Song Contest. Estonia’s unwavering dedication to the competition remains steadfast, with this year marking its 29th entry. While the Baltic nation hasn’t always secured a spot in the Grand Finals, notable achievements have been made. Just last year, the group 5Miinust and Puuluup made it into the Grand Final of Malmö with the song “(Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi” an impressive performance, coming 20th.

Despite occasional challenges, Estonia has consistently delivered numerous strong and memorable songs that have earned commendable placings in the Eurovision Song Contest. In fact, Estonian entries have frequently succeeded in qualifying for the Grand Final, with a notable statistical chance of 62% for making it through. Impressively, Estonia has reached the Grand Final on 18 occasions, and among those, they have achieved a Top 10 position an impressive 11 times! Such achievements underscore Estonia’s resilience and prowess in the Eurovision arena.

Biggest successes

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1st place, Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL with “Everybody” (Copenhagen 2001)

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3rd place, Sahléne with “Runaway” (Tallinn 2002)

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4th place, Ines with “Once In A Lifetime” (Stockholm 2000)

History

  • Debut: 1994
  • Participations: 29
  • Victories: 1
  • Finals: 18 (10 since 2004)
  • Chances to reach the final: 62% (50% since 2004)
  • Top 10: 11 (5 since 2004)
  • Chances to reach the Top 10: 61% (25% since 2004)
  • Best place: 1 (1x)
  • Last places: 1 (in semi-final)
# location year performer song points rank show
1 Dublin 1994 Silvi Vrait Nagu Merelaine 2 24 final
2 Oslo 1996 Ivo Linna and Maarja-Liis Ilus Kaelakee Hääl 94 5 final
3 Dublin 1997 Maarja-Liis Ilus Keelatud Maa 82 8 final
4 Birmingham 1998 Koit Toome Mere Lapsed 36 12 final
5 Jerusalem 1999 Evelin Samuel and Camille Diamond Of Night 90 6 final
6 Stockholm 2000 Ines Once In A Lifetime 98 4 final
7 Copenhagen 2001 Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL Everybody 198 1 final
8 Tallinn 2002 Sahléne Runaway 111 3 final
9 Riga 2003 Ruffus Eighties Coming Back 14 21 final
10 Istanbul 2004 Neiokõsõ Tii 57 11 semi-final
11 Kyiv 2005 Suntribe Let’s Get Loud 31 20 semi-final
12 Athens 2006 Sandra Oxenryd Through My Window 28 18 semi-final
13 Helsinki 2007 Gerli Padar Partners In Crime 33 22 semi-final
14 Belgrade 2008 Kreisiraadio Leto Svet 8 18 semi-final
15 Moscow 2009 Urban Symphony Rändajad 129 6 final
16 Oslo 2010 Malcolm Lincoln Siren 39 14 semi-final
17 Düsseldorf 2011 Getter Jaani Rockefeller Street 44 24 final
18 Baku 2012 Ott Lepland Kuula 120 6 final
19 Malmö 2013 Birgit Õigemeel Et Uus Saaks Alguse 19 20 final
20 Copenhagen 2014 Tanja Amazing 36 12 semi-final
21 Vienna 2015 Elina Born & Stig Rästa Goodbye To Yesterday 106 7 final
22 Stockholm 2016 Jüri Pootsmann Play 24 18 semi-final
23 Kyiv 2017 Koit Toome & Laura Verona 85 14 semi-final
24 Lisbon 2018 Elina Nechayeva La Forza 245 8 final
25 Tel Aviv 2019 Victor Crone Storm 76 20 final
26 Rotterdam 2021 Uku Suviste The Lucky One 58 13 semi-final
27 Turin 2022 Stefan Hope 141 13 final
28 Liverpool 2023 Alika Bridges 168 8 final
29 Malmö 2024 5Miinust and Puuluup (Nendest) narkootikumidest ei tea me (küll) midagi 37 20 final
30 Basel 2025 Tommy Cash Espresso Macchiato 356 3 final

Video Nostalgia

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Jüri Pootsmann with „Play“, Rang 18 (Semi-Final) (Malmö 2016)

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Evelin Samuel & Camille with “Diamond Of Night”, Rank 6 (Jerusalem 1999)

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Gerli Padar with “Partners In Crime”, Rank 22 (Semi Final) (Helsinki 2007)