thisisFINLAND

Finland’s quirky sand skiing world championship also carries a climate warning

Our video shows you a beach on the west coast of Finland where a group of skiers embraces sand instead of snow – not just for sport, but to draw attention to a warming world.

Life & society Nature

5 reasons to love Finnish porcini mushrooms

The word porcini means “piglets” in Italian. In English they go by “penny bun” and “king bolete.” These are only a few of the many names people use to refer to this beloved wild mushroom. Here’s why you should love them too.

Arts & culture Performing arts

Make air, not war: The joyfully absurd World Championships in Oulu

Ever dreamed of witnessing something wildly fun and just a little bit bonkers? Picture people of all ages rocking out on stage with instruments only they can see. Dancing like nobody’s watching, fully immersed in the moment. This is air guitar at its most serious. And most glorious.

Arts & culture Music

Quirky ’90s band Ultra Bra stages a stylish comeback at 30

Ultra Bra, one of the most beloved Finnish bands of the 1990s, has released new songs after more than two decades and reunited for shows at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium and summer festivals.

Life & society Sports

Frenemies for life: Finland and Sweden’s century-old athletics rivalry continues

Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, the Finland–Sweden Athletics International is a one-of-a-kind event celebrated each August. It’s a stage for pride, passion and an age-old rivalry between two close neighbours.

Arts & culture Moomin

Why Finland’s Moomin books still matter in today’s world

The Moomins and the Great Flood, by the Finnish writer and artist Tove Jansson, was published in 1945. The first Moomin book introduces the central characters and themes like love, respect and belonging, for which Jansson and the extended family of Moomins became internationally renowned.

Arts & culture Literature

The whimsical humanity of Finnish Moomin author and artist Tove Jansson

The creator of the Moomins was much more than just a cartoonist. Her body of work could fill several lifetimes. She lived a long life shaped by love, freedom, sea and adventure – all of which can be read and felt in her works.

Life & society Nature

Discover the wild herbs growing across Finland

Finland’s forests are full of flavour. Meet the wild herbs hiding in plain sight.

Life & society History

Then and now in photos: Helsinki 50 years after the Cold War summit

As Finland hosts an anniversary event marking 50 years since the historic OSCE summit and the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, we return to the city streets where history happened. Paired images show iconic Helsinki locations in 1975 and 2025, offering a glimpse of how much has changed.

Arts & culture Visual arts

New York’s Met Museum showcases beloved Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck

Renowned Finnish artist Helene Schjerfbeck is the first Nordic woman painter to be presented in a solo exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The show “will be a revelation to Met audiences,” says curator Dita Amory.

Arts & culture Culture

A night hike into the heart of Finnish folk music

Kaustinen, a small Finnish town renowned for its rich folk music traditions, welcomes festival-goers with a unique night hike through rain-soaked forests and magical cliffs. As fiddles echo in the dusk, hikers from across the globe gather to experience music and nature under the northern summer sky that never goes dark.

Arts & culture Design

Finnish design by Artek still resonates, nearly a century after the company began

As Finnish design house Artek marks its 90th anniversary, a Canadian reporter reflects on how its timeless furniture helped shape her home and why its legacy endures.

Life & society Sports

Fit as a Finn: The story behind Finland’s affinity for exercise

From 19th-century gymnastics clubs to today’s ski trails and cycling paths, fitness has long formed part of Finnish life. But what keeps this nation moving through every season? Let’s find out.

Life & society Wellbeing

How Finland’s Housing First model makes real progress against homelessness

Finland has a plan to eradicate longterm homelessness by 2027. We asked three formerly homeless people to share their favourite things about their homes.

Life & society Sports

Life in motion: A visual journey into what an active lifestyle means to the Finns

In Finland, movement is often woven into daily life – not just as exercise, but as a source of fun, resilience and connection. Our photo essay explores how Finns of all ages keep active, from disc golf and swimming to simply walking in the woods.

Life & society Sauna

Finnish architect Sami Rintala tells us how saunas got hotter than ever

Inspiration from Finland is prompting a global sauna boom, thanks to architects such as Sami Rintala, whose designs can be found in Japan, Norway, Romania and the UK. He tells us how saunas got so hot.

Life & society Lifestyle

An ode to the joys of Finnish summer cottages

From coastal islands to inland forests, our American reporter explores the quiet joy – and hard work – of Finland’s summer-cottage traditions.

Finland’s quirky sand skiing world championship also carries a climate warning

5 reasons to love Finnish porcini mushrooms

Make air, not war: The joyfully absurd World Championships in Oulu

Quirky ’90s band Ultra Bra stages a stylish comeback at 30

Frenemies for life: Finland and Sweden’s century-old athletics rivalry continues

Why Finland’s Moomin books still matter in today’s world

The whimsical humanity of Finnish Moomin author and artist Tove Jansson

Discover the wild herbs growing across Finland

Then and now in photos: Helsinki 50 years after the Cold War summit

New York’s Met Museum showcases beloved Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck

A night hike into the heart of Finnish folk music

Finnish design by Artek still resonates, nearly a century after the company began

Fit as a Finn: The story behind Finland’s affinity for exercise

How Finland’s Housing First model makes real progress against homelessness

Life in motion: A visual journey into what an active lifestyle means to the Finns

Finnish architect Sami Rintala tells us how saunas got hotter than ever

An ode to the joys of Finnish summer cottages

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