Major Events & Festivals in Helsinki, Finland

1. Helsinki Pride

Annual LGBTQ+ pride parade and festival in Helsinki, promoting equality and diversity.

Colorful Parade: Features a vibrant and joyful parade through the city's streets.
Entertainment Program: Offers live music, performances, and speeches at various venues.
Community Gathering: Provides a platform for the local LGBTQ+ community to connect and celebrate.

A multi-arts event showcasing music, theater, dance, visual arts, and more.

Variety of Performances: Offers a diverse range of performances by international artists.
Unique Venues: Takes place in various venues across the city, including parks and historic buildings.
Community Engagement: Encourages audience participation through workshops and discussions.

An annual design festival featuring Finnish and international designers.

Exhibitions: Features various exhibitions showcasing innovative designs.
Workshops: Offers workshops where visitors can learn design skills from professionals.
Design Market: Features a market selling unique and limited-edition designs.

A traditional Christmas market held in Helsinki's central square.

Unique Finnish Crafts: Sells handmade Finnish crafts, such as glassware and textiles.
Food Stalls: Offers delicious traditional Finnish food like glögi (mulled wine) and pulla (pastries).
Live Music: Features live Christmas music performances.

A humorous event held on April Fool's Day, celebrating the temperance movement.

Historical Roots: Celebrates a historical movement that aimed to limit alcohol consumption.
Costume Parade: Features a parade with participants dressed in Victorian-era costumes.
Mocktails: Serves non-alcoholic 'mocktails' and other refreshments.

A triennial exhibition focusing on wood art and design.

International Collaboration: Features collaborations between Finnish and international artists.
Innovative Designs: Showcases innovative designs made entirely of wood.
Educational Workshops: Offers workshops teaching woodworking skills and techniques.

A music festival featuring a mix of local and international artists.

Music Variety: Covers various genres, including indie rock, electronic, hip hop, and jazz.
Art Installations: Features art installations throughout the festival grounds.
Community Atmosphere: Encourages a friendly and welcoming atmosphere among attendees.

A fashion event showcasing Finnish and international designers.

Designer Showcases: Features runway shows by established and emerging designers.
Fashion Market: Offers a market selling unique and limited-edition fashion pieces.
Networking Opportunities: Provides opportunities for attendees to connect with designers, buyers, and industry professionals.

Various traditional festivities held in Helsinki during the summer solstice.

Historical Roots: Celebrates Finnish culture and traditions, particularly those related to the summer solstice.
Folklore Performances: Features traditional folk dances, music, and stories.
Bonfires and Feasts: Includes bonfire lighting ceremonies and communal feasts.

An annual event showcasing Finnish design in various fields.

Design Exhibitions: Features a variety of design exhibitions in various locations.
Seminars and Workshops: Offers seminars, workshops, and discussions on design-related topics.
Design Market: Features a market selling Finnish design products.

An annual marathon event attracting runners from around the world.

Scenic Course: Runs through scenic areas of Helsinki, including along the coastal seafront.
Various Races: Offers races for various skill levels, including a full marathon, half-marathon, and 10K race.
Supportive Atmosphere: Features a supportive atmosphere with cheering crowds along the course.

A game development event featuring workshops, talks, and game demos.

Game Development Workshops: Offers workshops for game developers to learn new skills.
Talks by Industry Professionals: Features talks by industry professionals sharing insights and experiences.
Game Demos: Offers game demos for attendees to play and provide feedback.

A comics festival featuring comic artists, workshops, and panel discussions.

Comic Artists and Creators: Features comic artists and creators for meet-and-greets and signings.
Workshops: Offers workshops for attendees to learn comic creation skills.
Panel Discussions: Features panel discussions on various aspects of the comics industry.

A jazz festival featuring local and international jazz artists.

Jazz Artists: Features a variety of renowned jazz artists from around the world.
Variety of Venues: Takes place in various venues, including clubs, concert halls, and parks.
Educational Workshops: Offers educational workshops for jazz enthusiasts.

A film festival showcasing Finnish and international films.

Film Screenings: Features screenings of a variety of films, including feature-length films, documentaries, and short films.
Director Q&As: Offers opportunities for attendees to ask directors questions after screenings.
Industry Panels: Features industry panels discussing various aspects of filmmaking.