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.
Finnish contemporary circus piece Tempo tours Venice, Singapore and more
Kalle Nio’s visually striking Tempo is enjoying international attention, including a spot at Venice’s Biennale Danza. It’s the first Finnish performance at the Venice event in over 20 years.
When a Northern Finnish child picked up a kantele mostly to annoy her sister, no one imagined she would become one of the instrument’s boldest contemporary voices.
Finnish writer Saara Turunen’s work plays on new stages in Helsinki and Germany
Saara Turunen’s newest play opens in Helsinki, followed by the German version’s premiere in Hannover, with the Finnish author directing both versions herself.
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.
With art, motion and emotion, Finnish researchers explore new language-learning paths
Learning a new language can be daunting and is often associated with hours of memorising vocabulary and repeating textbook phrases. But what if it could be more active, creative, fun and emotionally engaging?
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