Culture - thisisFINLAND

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.

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.

Number of Unesco World Heritage sites in Finland

Source: Unesco

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 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.

292 votes

Amount of votes Finland got when winning the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest

Arts & culture Music

Käärijä and Tuuletar show Osaka 2025 how to “Party like a Finn”

In June, Finland will present shows by Käärijä (pictured) and Tuuletar at the Nordic Pavilion at the Osaka 2025 World Expo in Japan. The Nordic Pavilion is a joint project between the Nordic countries Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Music Finland is a partner of the Finland Day music program.

Arts & culture Festivals

Magic in the Finnish summer air

Every year, music festivals fill cities, fells, forests and lakesides with live music and a peculiar kind of charm that can only be felt in the summertime. Let’s unpack the reasons that make Finland the promised land of summer festivals – and look at some unique festival experiences for those who have seen it all.

Life & society Sauna

5 Finnish saunas that show there’s a sauna for every taste

There are over three million saunas in Finland – in theory, enough for everyone in Finland to have a sauna at the exact same time! While most of them are privately owned, public sauna culture is also thriving, with a staggering variety of options available. Here are a few outstanding picks if you’re looking to experience the real deal.