In the 2015 contest, "Aina mun pitää" performed by Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät failed to qualify Finland to the final, placing last in the semi-final.

[2] Finland's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest have been selected through national final competitions that have varied in format over the years.

Along with their participation confirmation, the broadcaster also announced that the Finnish entry for the 2016 contest would be selected through Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2016.

[3] Due to Siegfrids participation in the Swedish Eurovision Song Contest 2016 national final Melodifestivalen 2016 on 13 February, Salminen hosted the second semi-final alone.

[4] Rakel Liekki and Mikko Silvennoinen presented an after-show programme that took place following the announcement of the qualifiers in each semi-final and during the final.

[6] The proceeds from the public voting were donated to the Nose Day Foundation (Nenäpäivä-säätiö), which funds projects in developing nations.

[7] At least one of the writers and the lead singer(s) had to hold Finnish citizenship or live in Finland permanently in order for the entry to qualify to compete.

[7] The competing entries along with their promotional music videos were presented during a live streamed press conference on 12 January 2016, hosted by Krista Siegfrids, Rakel Liekki and Mikko Silvennoinen.

[3][8] The competing entries were also presented in a televised preview programme on 30 January 2016, hosted by Rakel Liekki, where a panel of guests consisting of Essi Hellén, Mikko Silvennoinen, Jaana Pelkonen and Tommi Manninen discussed the artists and songs and together with an audience vote, determined which entry had the best music video.

"Sing It Away" performed by Sandhja was selected as the winner by a 50/50 combination of public votes and ten jury groups that represented different sections of Finnish society: Eurovision experts, musicians, the media, YouTube personalities, Finland Swedes, LGBT, members of parliament, asphalt constructors, children and bloggers.

[29][30] Sandhja and the backing vocalists performed a dance routine together that revolved around the microphone stands and made use of the catwalk and satellite stage.

[33] Voting during the three shows was conducted under a new system that involved each country now awarding two sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting.

Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency.

This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act.

The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.