thisisFINLAND

Open your eyes to the daring, quirky world of Finnish circus

Amaze! Tales and Magic of Circus, an exhibition at the Theatre Museum in Helsinki, traces the history of Finnish circus through danger, dark humour, endurance and the thrill of doing the impossible.

Life & society Art

Turning Finnish nature into ink: A peek inside Seed Art Studio

Seed Art Studio founder Rushan Nasretdin turns acorn caps, alder cones and aronia berries into ink. Her workshops offer a new way to connect with Finnish nature through curiosity and experimentation.

Life & society Sauna

Sauna for everyone: the essence of Helsinki’s sauna culture

A cooling dip in the sea followed by a steaming sauna is the perfect start to a weekend for Finnish Canadian writer and journalist Katja Pantzar. Her book Helsinki by Sauna explores the city’s public saunas and the culture of wellbeing, equality and connection they represent.

Arts & culture Design

Finland’s Aalto Works joins UNESCO World Heritage List

Finland has gained its eighth UNESCO World Heritage Site after Aalto Works, a collection of architectural landmarks designed by Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Business & innovation Startups

Finnish startups go beyond buzzwords

Finland’s startup scene is powered by purpose, resilience and a deep belief in doing things differently. And when entrepreneurs need support, they can rely on each other.

Life & society Sauna

Remote Finnish smoke sauna draws visitors from near and far

Few experiences are as deeply relaxing as a traditional Finnish smoke sauna. This one in eastern Finland has loyal guests that arrive by foot, boat and even seaplane.

Life & society Language

Aino, Lumi and Pyry: Let’s look at Finland’s naming traditions

Finnish first names can feel opaque to outsiders – full of vowels, folklore and unfamiliar sound – but when you take a closer look, Finland’s naming traditions tell a fascinating story.

Business & innovation Technology

How Finland is future-proofing encryption for the quantum computing era

Finland is helping build the quantum computers that could one day break the internet’s encryption – while also leading the race to ensure they don’t.

Life & society Travel

Riding whitewater rapids in northern Finland’s summer wilderness

Families and first-time adventurers head to the rapids of Kuusamo, near the Arctic Circle, to experience northern Finland’s rivers beneath the endless summer light.

Life & society Food

5 reasons to love Finnish oats

Today, oats are more popular in Finland than ever before. Behind the boom is a perfect combination of innovative new products, Finns’ deep-rooted love affair with pure, high-quality traditional ingredients, and unshakeable belief in the perfect breakfast.

Life & society Fun

Unusual speed dating in Finland offers a new way to meet people

Speed-dating events are drawing crowds in Helsinki, but not for the reasons you might think. We visit with Tatskatytöt (“tattoo girls”) to see what attracts people and keeps them coming back.

Life & society Wellbeing

5 steps to a happier life: How a Finnish designer regained creativity

After experiencing burnout at the height of her career, Finnish designer and educator Emmi Salonen developed a five-step framework to reconnect with creativity, balance and joy. Her approach is now helping people around the world.

Arts & culture Architecture

Alvar Aalto’s Finland: Architecture designed for people

Widely regarded as Finland’s most influential architect, Alvar Aalto transformed modernism with a human-centred approach to design. Today, his work is nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Life & society Travel

The last ferry to a Finnish island

Sandy beaches, windswept pine forests and a lighthouse overlooking the Gulf of Bothnia have long made Hailuoto one of Finland’s most distinctive islands. Now, as a new bridge nears completion, the island is preparing for a transformation.

Business & innovation Business

How Finland’s west coast became a global boatbuilding hub

From bespoke superyachts to rugged rescue vessels, towns on Finland’s west coast build boats for demanding conditions.

Arts & culture Literature

Tracing the trail of an extinct sea giant, Finnish novelist finds literary success

An extinct sea cow, a museum skeleton and a fascination with scientific history inspired Finnish author Iida Turpeinen’s internationally acclaimed debut novel Beasts of the Sea.

Arts & culture Music

Celebrating a century of jazz in Finland

Many early jazz gigs on Finnish soil took place in gritty sailors’ bars. Jazz went on to earn a fervent following. The century-long history of jazz in Finland inspires a cavalcade of special events in 2026.