Riverbank comes alive with music, art and theatre in Turku, Finland

Arts & culture Architecture

Finland’s former capital, Turku, has been a hotbed of culture since the 13th century, growing up around the River Aura. Its riverbank district, billed as the Cultural Waterfront, is more vibrant than ever, with two major launches in late October 2026.

The jewel in the crown is the Turku Music Centre Fuuga. This state-of-the-art multi-genre venue is nestled between the newly renovated, city-owned WAM Museum of Contemporary Art and the City Theatre. Between them, the three neighbouring cultural institutions boast a half-dozen event locations with a combined capacity of 3,000, as well as five places to enjoy a meal or a drink.

Together, they form a magnet for culture-loving locals and visitors, says Fuuga director Samppa Rinne.

“People can come in without a ticket and experience all the shapes and moods,” he says. “They can go up to the rooftop terrace and see an almost 360-degree view including Turku’s castle and cathedral, any time until late evening – it’s amazing.”

Fuuga is open to the public almost every day of the year. “The threshold to come in is very low, but the quality is really high,” says Rinne. “And if somebody comes here for a show, I hope they go to see a WAM exhibition, too. They have a nice restaurant there, too. Altogether, it’s a beautiful part of the riverside.”

The 90-million-euro music centre and the theatre, which are under the same management and connected underground, plan to team up for musicals and operas – and perhaps shows tying in thematically with WAM exhibitions.

A home for all music

An aerial architectural rendering of a riverside in the centre of the city of Turku, with a modern concert hall in the centre of the image.

Turku is a vibrant city located in southwestern Finland. It is home to about 210,000 people.Architectural rendering: PES-Architects

Fuuga is the centrepiece of this new cultural hub, and its main engine is the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO), one of the world’s oldest continuously operating orchestras.

“We started in 1790, so when Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven were composing their masterpieces, we played them as contemporary works,” says CEO Nikke Isomöttönen. Finnish national composer Jean Sibelius also frequently conducted the ensemble.

Percussionists in an orchestra, with timpani in the foreground.

The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1790.Photo: Jussi Virkkumaa / City of Turku

The TPO doesn’t rest on its laurels, though.

“Since we’re the only professional symphony orchestra in Southwest Finland, we have a responsibility to play for as wide a range of people as possible,” says Isomöttönen. “Fuuga is a home for all music. Besides our symphonic programme, we play chamber music, opera projects, crossover productions with pop stars, and film screenings. And our chief conductor, John Storgård, is very active in bringing the audience contemporary pieces.”

Sound that envelops you

An architectural rendering showing a modern, light-coloured concert hall, with an orchestra on stage and a full audience.

Fuuga’s main concert hall seats 1,300 people, while the smaller Ateljee Hall seats approximately 300.Architectural rendering: PES-Architects

The TPO’s first season at Fuuga features commissioned premieres by three women composers: Ukraine’s Victoria Polevá and Finland’s Minna Leinonen and Outi Tarkiainen. Tarkiainen’s piece highlights Sámi yoik singing. (The Sámi are the only recognised Indigenous People in the EU area.)

The philharmonic also shares a bill with the Turku Jazz Orchestra and pianist Iiro Rantala, followed by several concerts with Swedish pop veteran Tomas Ledin. For events with amplified instruments, the sound in Fuuga’s concert halls can be adjusted using acoustic curtains.

“The key to Fuuga’s success is its acoustics,” says Isomöttönen. “It’s really a top world-class hall, with acoustic design as the first priority. The concept is to create a sound that envelops you, bringing the music close to the listener.”

Designed by renowned Brussels-based acoustician Eckhard Kahle along with Finnish experts, the 1,300-seat main hall’s sound “has power, but doesn’t get noisy,” says Isomöttönen.

That will be put to the test on May 1, 2027, when the legendary Berlin Philharmonic performs its annual Europakonzert from Fuuga for a worldwide TV and streaming audience.

Crucial to the main hall’s sound are the pine stage and curved spruce acoustic panels made by a local family firm. Meanwhile, the intimate Ateljee Hall, with a capacity of approximately 300, features a wide range of events including pop, indie rock and jazz gigs.

A great space for great exhibitions

An interior view of a building with white walls and distinctive rows of windows.

WAM opened in 1967 as the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum but has rebranded as the WAM Museum of Contemporary Art.Photo: Raakkel Närhi / WAM

Fuuga, with its distinctive curved copper façade, was designed by Tuomas Silvennoinen of PES-Architects, creator of many landmark buildings in Finland, China and Vietnam. It’s built to complement its neighbours, including WAM.

WAM opened in 1967 as the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum, honouring one of Finland’s best-known sculptors, responsible for landmark statues in Turku and other cities.

“We decided to rebrand it as the WAM Museum of Contemporary Art because it’s not primarily dedicated to Aaltonen,” explains chief curator Silja Lehtonen.

Following a 16-million-euro, two-year renovation, the museum has more space, including the new WAMx multipurpose studio and event space and an underground exhibition space. The inaugural exhibition is the first Nordic show by Canadian media artist Sabrina Ratté (through April 2027).

A colourful artwork on a screen, surrounded by darkness.

Interactive video installations by Canadian artist Sabrina Ratté fill WAM. (Pictured here is Pharmakon, 2025, an interactive installation at Eisode in Montreal.)Photo: Sabrina Ratté

“These immersive, interactive video installations are visually very rich,” says Lehtonen, mentioning “lots of glimmering lights and mirrors and reflections all over the exhibition space, as well as a projection on the building’s façade.”

Returning are two features beloved by locals: an aquarium and a courtyard fountain.

“This is, in our opinion, the greatest exhibition space in Finland,” she adds. “But we’re obviously biased!”

By Wif Stenger, October 2026

Finnish Futuro: the UFO-shaped house that landed around the world

Arts & culture Design

It looks as if a flying saucer has landed in the middle of Helsinki – more specifically, among the carefully laid paths and climbing plants of the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden.

The pale structure is eight metres across. A set of stairs folds down like the boarding steps of an aircraft. Inside, the elliptical building even smells faintly of plastic, which is hardly surprising: there are roughly 4,000 kilograms (8,800 pounds) of reinforced plastic surrounding us.

Two rounded windows punctuate the curved shell of the Futuro, reflecting trees and the surrounding grounds in their tinted acrylic plastic.

This new Futuro, unveiled at Helsinki Design Week in 2026, was made using the original moulds acquired by Dutch-American designer Jan van Dijs. It is the first Futuro built since 1978 and an exact replica of Suuronen’s original design.

This is a brand-new Futuro, the first one built in decades, recreated using the original moulds. Fewer than 100 of these unusual Finnish structures exist worldwide.

A ski cabin from the future

A Futuro house with dark oval windows stands on display at Helsinki’s Stockmann department store, surrounded by small trees, flower decorations and crowds of shoppers.

A glimpse of the future in 1969: a Futuro on display at Helsinki’s Stockmann department store.Photo: Ritva Bäckman / Finnish Heritage Agency

The story of the Futuro began when a friend of Finnish architect Matti Suuronen asked him to design a ski cabin that could be placed in difficult terrain.

The request made perfect sense in Finland, where skiing is a national pastime and ski trails often lead into remote landscapes.

The cabin needed to be easy to transport, quick to assemble and fast to heat. Suuronen’s solution was radical. The house was manufactured in sections at a factory, transported to its destination and assembled on site. It was even light enough to be moved by helicopter. The idea was that homes could be mass-produced, almost like cars.

Flower beds and winding paths in a landscaped garden are visible through one of the distinctive oval windows of a Futuro house.

Part ski lodge, part summer cottage, part UFO. Futuros have served many purposes around the world, often equipped with all the comforts of home.

In the late 1960s, these were revolutionary ideas.

The era was defined by faith in technology and the future. Space exploration captured imaginations around the world, and many people genuinely believed flying cars were just around the corner.

Finnish architecture, meanwhile, was strongly influenced by functionalism – the idea that design should first and foremost solve practical problems. The Futuro combined both visions: practical engineering wrapped in a futuristic shell.

When the world fell in love with a UFO

A yellow Futuro No. 001 stands on supports behind EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art – with oval windows and a red staircase leading to its entrance.

The yellow Futuro No. 001, manufactured in 1968, now rests behind the Espoo Museum of Modern Art, near Helsinki.

The first Futuro was unveiled in the spring of 1968.

Known as Futuro No. 000, it was painted light blue and placed at a private ski slope in southern Finland. The second, a yellow model numbered 001, became an extension to a summer cottage in Hirvensalmi, near the eastern Finnish city of Mikkeli.

Despite its compact size, the Futuro was fully equipped. Inside were six convertible seats, sleeping alcoves for two people, a fireplace, a kitchen and a bathroom.

The Futuro’s compact interior features a curved kitchen counter with a stainless-steel sink, yellow walls, red structural details and a round window.

Despite its compact size, the Futuro included all the essentials for a weekend getaway, with a small kitchen, sleeping area, fireplace and toilet built into its futuristic interior.

It was the third Futuro, however, that captured international attention.

In autumn 1968, a yellow Futuro was displayed at a Finnish export exhibition in London on the deck of a ship moored on the River Thames. Visitors were fascinated. In the months that followed, manufacturer Polykem received more than 400 inquiries about production licences.

A Finnish export unlike any other

The Futuro’s bright interior has a red floor, curved white wall panels and three large oval windows showing trees and buildings outside, while sculptural white chairs are upholstered in striped red Marimekko textiles.

The Futuro’s interior features textiles by Finnish design brand Marimekko as part of its 2026 Helsinki Design Week installation.

Visitors queued to see the new Futuro during Helsinki Design Week.

Inside, Marimekko textiles and carefully chosen lighting make the compact interior surprisingly cosy. It feels less like a spaceship than a small, comfortable retreat.

Between 1968 and 1978, 20 Futuros were manufactured in Finland, 12 of them for export. Production licences were sold to 25 countries, and manufacturing began in ten of them.

An aerial view of the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden shows its glasshouses and landscaped gardens among dense trees, with a large historic building and the white UFO-shaped Futuro positioned on the open lawn.

In autumn 2026, visitors could see the new Futuro at the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden. Its final destination has yet to be announced.

The Futuro was a highly unusual Finnish export. At a time when Finland was known mainly for timber, paper products and functionalist architecture, the Futuro offered a radically different vision of Finnish design.

In total, fewer than 100 Futuros were produced worldwide.

Suuronen continued experimenting with reinforced plastic and designed an entire family of futuristic structures known as the Casa Finlandia series. The best-known after the Futuro was the Venturo.

A futuristic house meets the oil crisis

Bright yellow moulded seats with oval white panels stand against the curved red-orange walls of a Futuro interior, with a polished dark floor and a row of oval windows.

Over the decades, Futuro has found a second life in pop culture, appearing in music videos, adverts, TV and museums around the world. Many recognise the UFO-shaped building without knowing it is a Finnish design classic.

Despite the international attention, the Futuro never became a commercial success.

For many people it was simply too unusual and too expensive.

Then came the oil crisis of 1973. As oil prices soared, producing large plastic structures became far less attractive. The Futuro’s dreams of global expansion faded.

Yet the story did not end there.

Fewer than 70 Futuros are still known to survive. They can be found across Europe and in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Taiwan even has an entire village inspired by the Futuro concept.

Some houses were demolished. Others were abandoned and deteriorated.

Bright red folding steps lead up to a yellow Futuro house, with yellow support struts and a metal foot visible beneath the structure.

The surviving Futuro houses in Finland can be found in Espoo, Åland, Merimasku, Pöytyä and Kauhava.

Today, the Futuro is one of the best-known examples of Finnish futuristic design and a sought-after architectural collectible. It has appeared in music videos, advertisements, television programmes and museum exhibitions around the world. Many people recognise the UFO-shaped structure without realising it originated in Finland.

At least five Futuros remain in Finland. One can be found at the Espoo Museum of Modern Art, just west of Helsinki. The others are in private ownership.

So if you happen to encounter an elliptical UFO somewhere in the world, look twice: you may be looking at a piece of Finnish design history.

Futuro in brief

Designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen (1933–2013), the Futuro is a prefabricated house that embodies the future-oriented optimism of the 1960s.

The original colour options were white, yellow and light blue.

Constructed from fibreglass-reinforced polyester plastic, the house measures eight metres (26 feet) in diameter and four metres (13 feet) in height, with a floor area of 25 square metres (270 square feet).

The ellipse motif appears throughout the design: windows, light fittings, electrical outlets and even door handles repeat the same rounded shape.

By Emilia Kangasluoma, October 2026; photos by Emilia Kangasluoma unless otherwise noted

This article is partially based on information from Marko Home and Mika Taanila’s book Futuro: Tomorrow’s House from Yesterday (Desura, 2002).

Designing happiness: Finnish products that help people thrive

Life & society Design

Rain, check!

What? Kidswear by Reima

How? Founded in 1944, Reima has built their reputation on clothing that supports children’s mobility and outdoor play. The focus on functionality means waterproof fabrics, breathable materials and durable construction. This reflects a broader Nordic ethos: children should be free to explore, whatever the weather. In Finland, everyday wellbeing is often traced back to time spent outdoors, starting from early childhood.

Walk past any kindergarten in Finland on a rainy day, and you’ll see small figures in waterproof clothing or splash gear jumping in puddles and playing in the mud.

Someone ordered a smile?

Several small delivery robots move down a curved sidewalk.

Photo: Aivan

What? Delivery robots designed by Aivan

How? Starship’s grocery delivery robots are a prime example of design that spreads joy. Rolling along Finnish sidewalks, they bring groceries straight to people’s doorsteps. Unlike some robots that can feel cold or intimidating, these ones spark delight: when they were first introduced, people snapped photos of the friendly-looking machines. To this day, pedestrians still stop to help if one gets stuck or hesitates at a busy crossing.

According to the Finnish design agency Aivan, social acceptance was a key driver in the design of the robots. They are intentionally made to look non-threatening. Their compact, rounded form and subtle expressions make them feel more like helpful companions than machines.

Child’s play

Photo: Wiitta

What? Sled and slider

How? A sled (pulkka in Finnish) or snow slider (liukuri) is more than just a plastic toy – it’s a ticket to winter fun. Found in nearly every Finnish home, these simple items turn snowy days into opportunities for movement, play and shared happiness, transforming even the smallest hill into an amusement park. And not just that: On snowy winter days, a sled pulled by a guardian is the go-to mode of transport to kindergarten for anyone under six in Finland.

For generations Finnish winter play has been shaped by classic pulkka, a simple plastic sled. Its design is straightforward, durable and affordable – qualities that reflect the Finnish belief that good design should be accessible and enhance everyday life.

Showing true colours

A woman in a Marimekko print dress lies on her side on the floor, lifting one leg.

Photo: Marimekko

What? Lifestyle brand Marimekko

How? Since 1951, Finnish design powerhouse Marimekko has been on a mission to bring colour and cheer to everyday life with bold prints and vibrant palettes, in both clothing and homeware. Founder Armi Ratia envisioned a brand that would celebrate individuality, optimism and freedom.

In a time when the norm was tight, form-fitting clothing for women, Marimekko introduced loose-fitting, eye-catching dresses that offered freedom of movement and expression. This wasn’t just fashion. It was a statement of liberation, especially for women stepping into new roles in society. Today, Marimekko’s bold patterns and colours are combined with Nordic minimalism in everything from tableware to textiles.

Joy on wheels

A high-tech bicycle is on an urban street. A person rests her foot on the bike.

Photo: Helkama

What? Jopo bicycle

How? Jopo, short for jokaisen polkupyörä (everyone’s bicycle) was introduced in 1965 by Finnish company Helkama as a response to the growing need for a practical, everyday bicycle. It marked a radical departure from traditional bike design. With its adjustable frame, single-speed simplicity and cheerful colours, it was built to be shared, enjoyed and embraced by all ages.

Jopo bikes are manufactured in Hanko, Finland’s southernmost city, known for its sunshine. Over the decades, Jopo has become a symbol of Finnish egalitarianism and urban cheerfulness – a true everyday design icon. It remains an all-time favourite among tweens and teens, with colorful bikes lining schoolyards across the country.

Can happiness be designed?

A woman, Anniina Koivu, poses in the sunshine.

Photo: Piercarlo Quecchia

This is the question curator Anniina Koivu set out to explore in Designing Happiness, an exhibition that premiered at Helsinki Design Week, the largest design and architecture festival in the Nordic countries.

“Happiness is difficult to define. It’s something between the deeply personal and the collective,” says Koivu.

The exhibition examines how design can trigger key hormones behind the feeling of happiness: the so-called “happiness cocktail” of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins.

So, what makes Finns top the World Happiness Report year after year? Koivu, who was born in Finland, raised in Germany, and now lives in Switzerland and Italy, has some ideas:

“In Finland, there’s a certain calmness, appreciation and acceptance of things as they are, rather than a constant drive to change them.

“I like to think it’s connected to our relationship with nature – accepting that we don’t need to dominate or master it. It’s about understanding your place as part of something bigger, whether that’s society, nature or the universe.”

By Taina Ahtela, ThisisFINLAND Magazine

Turku Castle has stood through 700 years of Finnish history

Life & society History

In southwestern Finland, the city of Turku holds some grand historic structures, including a castle that counts itself among the nation’s oldest buildings. An episode of Monocle Radio’s The Urbanist explores the history of Turku Castle, from its beginnings in the 1280s to its later life as a museum.

Construction began when Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden, and the castle grew from a small, partly wooden fortress into a formidable stone castle and, in the 16th century, a grand Renaissance residence.

The castle later found itself at the centre of European power struggles when Duke John, later King John III of Sweden, brought his new wife, Catherine Jagiellon of Poland, to Turku. John’s older brother, King Eric XIV of Sweden, grew suspicious of his alliance with Poland and, in 1563, sent troops to besiege Turku Castle. After heavy bombardment, John and Catherine surrendered and were imprisoned. Five years later, the tables turned: John led a successful rebellion against Eric, deposed him and brought him to Turku Castle as a prisoner in 1570.

In 1614, a fire broke out in the kitchen while King Gustav II Adolf was visiting the castle, destroying much of the interiors. The castle subsequently served as a storehouse and barracks, while its outer bailey was converted into a prison in the 19th century. The main castle was severely damaged during bombings in 1941, and restoration work was completed in 1961. Today, Turku Castle operates as a museum and remains one of the city’s major historical landmarks.

Beats beneath the surface: Inside Helsinki’s underground rave scene

Arts & culture Music

Ask five people what a rave is, and you’ll likely get five different answers. But at its core, rave culture centres on music, dancing and a shared love for this counterculture with an ethos of peace, love, unity and respect (PLUR).

DJ Pixi, a longtime rave organiser and performer, says the vibe changes depending on the setting. Indoors, you are edging closer to club territory. Outdoors, it’s all about culture and community.

Step inside Helsinki’s underground rave scene.

If you’re new, you’ll need a tip from a friend or a lucky scroll on social media. Locations are whispered, not posted, though the occasional flyer may appear if you know where to look.

For those interested in exploring the scene, start by joining local music groups or Helsinki-based events pages on social media. Sometimes, chatting with strangers or DJs after club nights can open doors, too.

Trees and techno

A woman performs with glowing LED props that form bright blue and white patterns swirling through the darkness at an outdoor rave in Helsinki.

The bass shakes the trees as Ada Kontio works the beat like magic, spinning lights and pulling everyone into the heart of the party.

Summer in Helsinki means daylight that stretches almost all through the night. Midnight means nothing as people peel off the main road – and they’re not just out for a stroll. On the eastern edge of the city, at Vuosaari Limestone Quarry, people of every stripe gather with one goal: to dance summer into existence.

The city’s forests transform into a fairy tale, but with a soundtrack that actually slaps. Ada Kontio, a seasoned raver, compares outdoor raves to tumbling down Alice’s rabbit hole: “Here, you can truly be yourself and dance however you want, without judgment. You can make a new friend just by smiling and dancing together.” Weirdness is celebrated here, just as it is in Wonderland.

Coloured lights shine through dense forest beside a small body of water, where people gather at an outdoor rave in Helsinki at night.

Every rave is made by the people who show up, by their shared respect for the space and their mission to make everyone feel at home.

The decks are open, meaning anyone brave enough can step up and play. There’s no hierarchy here. DJ Pixi is inspired by that unity: “What I see in my sets is that everyone is in it together – it’s not just me as the DJ and them as the audience; we’re all together, and that’s the feeling that makes me continue doing what I do.”

A DJ wearing white sunglasses mixes music on a controller as colourful streaks of light blur across the crowded dance floor at an underground rave.

DJ Pixi’s mission? To spark endless adrenaline and excitement, bouncing her own passion straight back into the crowd.

The night refuses to end as hundreds gather at the quarry. Electronic beats clash and mingle with the hush of Finnish nature, creating a surreal world ravers want to respect.

Morning comes, but the beat goes on as friends and strangers tidy up together.

Rules for raving right?

Revellers sit and stand around a fire in a wooded clearing at night, illuminated by orange flames and blue and green lighting from a nearby outdoor music setup.

Campfires, lights and natural surroundings are common features of outdoor rave gatherings in Finland during the summer months.

Angel Girls, a DJ duo who wish to be quoted together, say the setting plays a major role when it comes to raves. “In the middle of the forest, people don’t see what’s going on, so you can just go there and be at peace in the woods.”

But that freedom and peace? It doesn’t just happen. Ravers build their own safe haven, one good deed at a time. Angel Girls were named after their actions: “Our friends gave us the name. At some point, they started calling us ‘The Angel Girls’ – I guess because we always had all the essentials with us. We’d hand out water, gum and snacks to people.”

Even though the scene is welcoming, there are some things to keep in mind. Angel Girls say that as long as you follow the etiquette and are kind, it’s easy to get involved. Whether you have never raved before or are a regular, everyone is invited onto the dancefloor. But what etiquette, exactly?

It’s simple, really. As DJ Pixi puts it: “There’s an unspoken rule that you don’t make anyone uncomfortable – people just get it without needing to talk about it. Everyone can be themselves and come as they are, and no one is judged for what they’re like, because raves are a place where a judgmental atmosphere isn’t welcome.”

So, with etiquette in mind, step into the woods or a city park after dark. Follow the bass and you might just stumble into a whole new world, where the dance floor greets you with open arms and aux cords.

By Céilidhe Becker, September 2026
Photos and video by Sami Heiskanen

How Finland’s free school lunches became part of the national identity

Life & society Education

When school meals are discussed in Finland, the conversation often carries a whiff of enlightened civic virtue and moral certainty. Any sensible adult is expected to have just one view: school meals are worth supporting. Full stop.

Free school meals became available to all elementary school students in Finland in 1948. In the early years, kids’ favorite school lunches in Helsinki included meat soup and semolina porridge, according to Ritva Kylli’s book on Finnish food history.

The most hated dish was thin, milk-based macaroni porridge. At the time, macaroni was too exotic an ingredient for Finns, and it was favored in institutional cafeterias because preparing it was much easier than peeling potatoes.

Macaroni’s exotic aura, meanwhile, is long gone. On offer now are spaghetti, lasagna, penne casserole, marry me pasta and Palermo pasta, now something of a Finnish school-cafeteria classic. The recipe was created for a 1998 school food competition by Sirkka Anttonen, the kitchen manager at Kärpänen School in Lahti. In a 2023 Helsingin Sanomat article, Anttonen said she was looking for a name for the dish, turned to a map of Italy, and happened upon Palermo.

School meals were once an effective weapon against poverty and malnutrition in Finland, too. When children’s stomachs aren’t growling, learning outcomes improve, as well.

The full story by Virpi Salmi is featured on Kotona.com, a Finnish lifestyle site covering homes, design, crafts and everyday living in Finland. (Kotona means “at home” in Finnish.)

How a Finnish music fest creates a singular sense of community

Arts & culture Classical music

After driving for several hours along a road lined with forests and lakes, you wouldn’t expect to wind up at one of the world’s leading classical music festivals. Yet every July, Kuhmo becomes the international capital of chamber music for two weeks.

“The contrast is huge,” says festival volunteer Matti-Jussi Pollari, a former director of the Kuhmo Arts Centre. “We are by the lake, surrounded by forest. And then we have this amazing concert hall.”

Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival typically hosts about 60 ticketed concerts, as well as a couple dozen free events. The concerts attract a total of more than 7,000 unique attendees and sell a total of about 20,000 tickets. Venues include the Kuhmo Arts Centre, the local church and the village school.

Visit the friendly atmosphere of Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival with our video.
Video: Erika Benke/ThisisFINLAND

The Kuhmo Arts Centre, a striking building with a 668-seat performance hall built from local pine and stone, is the heart of the festival. “It’s one of the best halls I’ve ever played in,” says violinist Sergey Malov, widely known for his versatility, who keeps returning to Kuhmo year after year. “It may be my very favourite hall in the world. It has a wonderful look and perfect acoustics.”

Kuhmo may be famous for world-class chamber music, but the magic also extends off-stage. Musicians and audiences become neighbours. “We haven’t got much hotel capacity in Kuhmo,” says Pollari. “Most artists and visitors rent cottages or spaces in people’s homes.”

Two seated people shake hands with a standing visitor at an outdoor café table shaded by an awning.

Violist Mira Maranta (left) and cellist Nigel Thean of the Modulor Quartet chat with a festival visitor at a café in Kuhmo.

This arrangement is crucial to understanding how the festival has become part of everyday life in Kuhmo. Locals meet musicians everywhere they go, and musicians report running into members of the audience at the supermarket, mingling with them at cafés and sitting next to each other in restaurants.

“Everybody seems to be in it together,” says Beatrice Harmon, a violinist in the Modulor Quartet, which came to Kuhmo from Switzerland to play at several concerts. “When we see each other in the street, we greet each other. We go to the same shops as the audience members, and we go to the sauna with all the musicians – a Finnish experience that we haven’t got in Switzerland.”

Modular’s cellist, Nigel Thean, agrees. “We arrived two days ago, but I already feel like part of the community.”

Two people swim in a calm lake bordered by a forest under a clear sky.

Visiting musicians appreciate the possibility of going for a swim in the lake – and there is a dock conveniently located behind the concert hall.

Malov has fully immersed himself in the Finnish experience. “Fifteen minutes before the opening concert of the festival, I had a dip in the lake,” he says with a mischievous smile. “That could not happen in New York or London.”

Visitors feel it, too. Eberhard from Germany has attended the Kuhmo Festival 12 times since 1999. “I’ve just been to the supermarket and bumped into a man who checks the tickets at the concert hall,” he says. “He said, ‘Welcome to Kuhmo, I remember you!’”

That sense of familiarity is central to Kuhmo’s identity. For Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival artistic director Minna Pensola, those everyday encounters break down barriers between performers and audiences. “The threshold to comment on what happens on the stage is really low,” she says. “It has to do with the fact that we go around and mingle, and have equal access to concert halls, cafés, restaurants and lakes.”

A still lake glows orange, reflecting the sunset while the trees on the shore appear as silhouettes.

During the long days of summer, Kuhmo experiences magical “white nights,” with twilight for a few hours, but not complete darkness.

I experienced that sense of belonging for myself. The first question I was asked after entering a sauna in Kuhmo wasn’t about where I came from. It was, “What instrument do you play?” I had to admit that I didn’t play anything. Nobody seemed to mind, and I still felt like a welcome part of the group.

I left Kuhmo thinking that its greatest feat, and part of what makes it so unique, is what happens in between the concerts. World-famous musicians, festival staff and concertgoers aren’t separate groups – they all belong to the same community.

Text, photos and video by Erika Benke, September 2026

Finnish fashion brings bold prints and practical layers for autumn

Business & innovation Fashion

Autumn means back to school, work and busy schedules of hobbies and social events. As the days grow shorter and more blustery, leaves turn yellow and orange and fall from the trees, and fashion reflects the changing seasons

Autumn prints

A collage displays a brown jumper, leopard-print coat and skirt, a long patterned skirt, black heeled ankle boots, a muted checked scarf and a small necklace, next to a model in a matching dark blue and olive green checked outfit.

1. Brushed cashmere knit, Original Story; 2. Chrysoprase necklace, Keski-Pomppu; 3. Franny Pony Coat in Leo, Almada Label; 4. Look, Almada Label; 5. Kity wool skirt, Andiata; 6. Joya ankle boots, Terhi Pölkki; 7. Virva scarf, Nanso.Lookbook image: Marimekko

Autumn brings two familiar patterns back into focus: checks and leopard print.

Finnish brand Almada Label made its runway debut during Copenhagen Fashion Week in August. Known for its minimalist approach and everyday wardrobe staples, the brand introduced bold leopard print into the collection. What we learned from the show is that the key to wearing leopard in a pared-back way is to keep the rest of the look simple. Think clean lines, muted colours and understated accessories. Almada Label was also named the winner of the Internationalisation category at the 2026 Finnish Fashion Awards.

Marimekko takes a sharp approach to checks with a matching top and trousers in the same bold pattern. Made from organic cotton poplin, the set feels almost like an office-appropriate alternative to pyjamas.

Starting a new school year

A collage shows a striped button-up shirt, a cream sweatshirt with an owl graphic, green trousers, green outerwear, a blue backpack, a striped pencil case and a pink elephant-shaped reflector, next to two children modelling autumn outfits.

1. Vinkke piccolo shirt, Marimekko; 2. Paradise Long Purse, Johanna Gullichsen; 3. Signature sweatshirt, Gugguu; 4. Elefantti reflector, Finlayson; 5. Children’s anorak trousers, R-Collection; 6. Sumu backpack, Globe Hope; 7. Zipper anorak, R-Collection.Lookbook image: Gugguu

A new school year calls for clothes that can keep up with busy days. For Finnish kids, that often means practical layers and durable materials.

R-Collection’s anorak is a classic starting point. It was first created in 1982 and quickly became one of the brand’s most popular pieces. The tightly woven fabric protects well against the wind, while a water- and dirt-repellent finish makes it a practical choice for unpredictable autumn weather.

For children, clothes are also a way to show personality. Colours, prints and details that reflect their interests make getting dressed more fun. The accessories matter too. A practical backpack and pencil case are school essentials. Most importantly, a reflector helps children stay visible as the days get shorter.

The ease of a matching knit

A collage shows a dark brown coat, bronze earrings, cream ribbed knitwear, a burgundy pointed-toe boot and a black slouchy handbag arranged around a woman modelling a pale knit outfit, next a woman wearing a brown top with flowing sleeves and a matching fitted skirt.

1. Lumilla coat, Andiata; 2. Kosmos bronze earrings, Kalevala; 3. Lille ribbed sweater, Balmuir; 4. Jasper boots, Hagelstam; 5. Lily ribbed skirt, Balmuir; 6. Look, Original Story; 7. Origami slouchy bag, Pihka.Lookbook image: Balmuir

As autumn arrives, calendars often fill with social plans after work. A matching knit set is one of the easiest ways to look put-together from desk to dinner. Soft, warm and easy to style, it offers the comfort of loungewear with a more polished finish.

Finnish brands are particularly strong when it comes to knitwear. Take a look at Original Story, Almada Label, Ruskovilla, Alpa and Balmuir, all known for their high-quality knitwear.

Dressed for work and the journey

A collage shows a striped shirt, beige trousers, blue rain mac, black leather tote, brown derby shoes, watch and perfume bottle around a male model, next to a model wearing a green and blue checked jacket over a grey crew-neck jumper.

1. Classic stripe shirt, Turo; 2. Montalcino rain mac, Schoffa; 3. Look, Turo; 4. Fabrik pants, Makia; 5. January 5 Eau de Parfum, Aplomb; 6. Loihi watch, Aarni; 7. Tote bag, Turo; 8. Brown derby shoes, Schoffa.Lookbook image: Johanna Gullichsen

Polished enough for the office, practical enough for the commute and easy to wear beyond working hours, Finnish workwear pieces can handle autumn conditions well.

Schoffa’s lightweight Rain Mac is made for the journey to work, with a water-repellent and breathable fabric that provides protection when the autumn weather shifts.

If your wardrobe basics are covered but you are looking for something more distinctive for presentations or work events, Johanna Gullichsen’s workwear-inspired jacket offers another take on office dressing. Made from sturdy cotton, it features the brand’s iconic Doris pattern.

A new fragrance can be the finishing touch, an invisible accessory that stays with you throughout the day. Aplomb is a new luxury perfume brand from Helsinki that launched earlier this year. Its unisex fragrances are inspired by real-life muses, with each scent created as a letter to the person who inspired it. “January 5” captures the spirit of Finnish sisu (meaning a combination of courage and perseverance) with notes of bergamot, lily-of-the-valley, patchouli and cedarwood.

By Johanna Piispa, September 2026
(Images courtesy of the brands)

Tag: English