Estonia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. The Estonian entry was selected through the national selection "Eesti Laul 2013", organised by the Estonian broadcaster ERR. The song "Et uus saaks alguse", performed by Birgit and written by Mihkel Mattisen and Silvia Soro, represented the country and qualified from the first semi-final. The song went on to place 20th in the final, scoring 19 points.

On 12 September 2012, ERR announced the selection details for Eesti Laul 2013, announcing that the format would include two 10 song semifinals on 16 and 23 February 2013 and a final between 5 qualifiers from each semifinal on 2 March 2013. The submission period lasted until 10 December 2012 and only entries from Estonian citizens were accepted.

On 13 December 2012, ERR presented the 20 semifinalists in their daily entertainment program Ringvaade. The semifinals were selected out of 157 submissions by a professional jury panel composed of Owe Petersell (Raadio Elmar), Lenna Kuurmaa (singer), Erik Morna (Raadio 2), Alari Kivisaar (Raadio Sky+), Valner Valme (Postimees), Ingrid Kohtla (Eesti top 7, ERR), Siim Nestor (Eesti Ekspress), Koit Raudsepp (Raadio 2), Maiken (vocal instructor), Tauno Aints (composer) and Kaupo Karelson (Produktsioonifirma Ruut).

On 17 December, ERR announced the disqualification of the song "Miljoni roosiga kaardi sul saadan" performed by Tauri citing that the song sounded too similar to a previously existing song. The entry was replaced with the song "Young Girl" by Armastus.

Plagiarism accusations were launched against the song "Meil on aega veel" performed by Põhja-Tallinn, however on 20 December 2012, ERR cleared the song for the competition and declared that the accusations were false.

Between 14 January 2013 and 8 February, all participating entries were presented to the public live in the television program Terevisioon. On 24 January, ERR made all 20 songs available on their website.

The jury panel for the semifinals consisted of: Lenna Kuurmaa, Valner Valme, Mart Niineste, Ithaka Maria, Owe Petersell, Kadri Voorand, Janek Murd, Olav Osolin, Kristo Rajasaare, Els Himma and Heini Vaikmaa.

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