Events
in Helsinki
Anything and everything from festivals to blockparties.
When it comes to events, Helsinki has some groove! From major festivals to blockparties, family picnics to art infused experiences, and from beach raves to cozy jazz nights, the city’s event offering is as versatile as it’s residents. Summer might seem like “the” season to explore Helsinki’s pull power, but the city is alive and awake throughout all 12 months and 365 days of the year (even 366 on leap years).
Hey ho, let’s go!
With nearly 2,5 million event visitors and over 60,000 congress goers, Helsinki inspires and entertains you, you, and you too. How about celebrating the city’s birthday together with your neighbours, or moshpiting the night away at the biggest metal festival in the Nordics? What about discovering art on Vallisaari island, surrounded by the Baltic Sea and it’s mezmerising nature at Helsinki Biennial? Helsinki events bring a wide array of music, art, culture, good times and delicacies to recidents’ and visitors’ finger tips alike. While it might not be Disney, it sure feels like magic!
We do it with Pride
Helsinki Pride 2025
Helsinki Pride is Finland’s biggest human rights and cultural event, with a fantastic program in all colours of the rainbow. Events are open to all and most of them free of charge. The Helsinki Pride week will peak with a Pride parade and park celebration on Saturday, June 28th.
Helsinki Pride Week 2025 Helsinki Gay Walk
Explore Helsinki with a gay twist! This walking tour takes you to beautiful Helsinki, its sights and history – also from LGBTQ point of view unlike any other tour!
Helsinki Gay Walk The Friends of Dorothy
The queer feminist choir of Helsinki performs old and new choir music from folk songs to Eurovision entries and original compositions and lyrics by choir members, always with a queer feminist twist.
Youth Pride Party 2025
The Youth Pride Party is aimed at 13-17 year olds and offers a free and alcohol-free space to celebrate with others. There will be snacks, great entertainment and Glitternist makeup-artists!
Youth Pride Party 2025 Contemporary performance on Esplanad
Dance artists Johanna Karlberg and Iiris Laakso a.k.a. Lesbian Power Duo presents: LESBOLESBOLESBO. A two-performer lounge-styled DIY contemporary musical about a lesbian encounter and love story.
International Queerlesque Festival
Welcome to a world-class festival full of Burlesque, Circus, Drag and Queerness! In this festival you will see some of the most mesmerising and breath-taking performances from all around the world.
Great choices for all festival goers
Helsinki’s high season for larger music gatherings is the summer, but the city’s event venues and concert halls are open 365 days to entertain, move, and surprise all visitors from children to senior. Helsinki hosts numerous big festivals and big names throughout the high season, showcasing variety of music styles from popular to progressive, making it the perfect choice for curious minds and festival lovers alike.
Music events
Tuska Festival
Tuska Festival, the biggest heavy metal festival in Northern Europe takes place at Suvilahti in summer.
When?
27.-29.6.2025
Tuska Festival 2025 Buy tickets Flow Festival
Flow Festival presents an international program consisting of the brightest stars in pop and indie, the biggest names in DJ and club music, and a wide-ranging collection of experimental arts and music, unique in its diversity and quality.
Flow Festival 2025 Get tickets Allas Live
In summer, the courtyard of Allas Pool comes alive with unforgettable musical moments. In the summer of 2025, the stage of Allas Live is taken over by dozens of top Finnish artists and international stars.
Bassline Festival
The heart of Bassline is Helsinki’s freshest DJs and club concepts injecting energy into the heart of the city until early hours in the morning! Two summer nights filled with music, joy, and unforgettable memories. Let’s Dance!
Kulttuuritalo concerts
A vivid event venue in Helsinki’s Alppila district. The House of Culture is the first public building in Helsinki designed by Alvar Aalto, now hosting a variety of music and other events throughout the year.
Kulttuuritalo – Helsinki Hall of Culture Tickets and more Viapori Jazz
The annual Viapori Jazz treats you to a stimulating schedule for the last week of August, taking place around Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.
Viapori Jazz 2025 More info Tavastia Club
Join Helsinki’s most iconic live music venue for a night of lighter or heavier music.
Tavastia-klubi Calendar and info Hellsinki Metal Festival
At Helsinki Ice Hall in August, Hellsinki Metal Festival offers an intriguing cross-section of international and Finnish metal’s finest — with a few surprising names included.
Hellsinki Metal Festival 2025 
Unique gatherings in lively neighbourhoods
Here all belong, and vibrant communities make the city bubble throughout the seasons. Helsinki is a city that fosters strong community culture built on the city’s quirkiness and deep love, inviting recidents and visitors alike to live through the real Helsinkian charm. From sports events to niche gatherings, blockparties and the city’s birthday celebrations, everyone’s welcome to take part in finding their own Helsinki happiness.
Community events
Helsinki Day
Helsinki Day is a city-wide festival for everyone! Helsinki’s birthday is traditionally marked on 12 June, when the city is packed with a wide range of free-of-charge events organised by various local associations, companies, clubs, organisations and active residents. Helsinki Day has been celebrated since 1959.
Helsinki Day 2025 See the programme Kallio Blockparty
The hot Helsinki summer will culminate in the annual Kallio Block Party in August.
Kallio district, Hämeentie – Torkkelinmäki
2.8.2025
Free entry.
Kallio Block Party 2025 More on Kallio neighbourhood Konepaja Festival
The Konepaja Festival takes place in the area of VR’s former Vallila machine shop in May. Programme includes flea markets, live music and performances.
Konepaja Festival 2025 More info Helsinki Samba Carnaval
Helsinki Samba Carnaval ® (HSC) is one of the largest annual summer events in Helsinki, that will be held yearly in June.
Helsinki Samba Carnaval 2025 Discover more Helsinki Organ Summer
Helsinki Organ Summer is one of the largest festivals in Finland which fills yearly the churches of Helsinki city centre, Kallio District and Suomenlinna Sea Fortress with organ recitals.
Helsinki Organ Summer 2025 The World Village Festival
The World Village Festival for sustainable development will take place each May at Suvilahti on theme Peace.
The communities and individuals involved in the festival want to build a sustainable future, to keep an open mind about people and to make their dreams a reality.
World Village Festival 2025 Read more Midnight Run Helsinki
Happening in early September, Midnight Run is a 10 or 5 km run with a lot of music, big cheering crowd and a feeling of a hot carneval. It starts and ends in the middle of Helsinki city centre, at the Senate Square, and it will take you to beautiful places and sights in Helsinki.
Midnight Run Helsinki 2025 Love & Anarchy Film Festival
The gates to the cinema heaven will open when the Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy lands in September in the cinemas of Helsinki.
Love & Anarchy Film Festival 2025 Helsinki Comics Festival
Helsinki Comics Festival offers versatile, free activities for both children and adults. The program includes interviews with invited guests, panel discussions, competitions, workshops and exhibitions.
Helsinki Comics Festival 2025 Decades of creative tradition
Helsinki events work as a Nordic gateway to modernism, Art Nouveau, and bold new ways to live beautifully. Discover the latest trends, wildest performances, vintage markets, and creative installations to get inspired of the city’s vibrant history of design and art. From annual to biannual, and occasional to regular, there’s something exciting to discover for every master.
Design and art events
Helsinki Design Week
The largest Design and Architecture festival in the Nordic countries, Helsinki Design Week, presents the city from new perspectives every year. Most of the program is free of charge.
Helsinki Design Week 2025 See the programme Helsinki Festival
Helsinki Festival is the largest arts festival in the Nordic countries, held annually in late summer (August). The festival’s aim is to make art accessible for all. The programme features classical and world music, theatre, dance, circus and visual arts as well as a range of urban events.
Habitare
Habitare – Finland’s largest furniture, design and decoration event. Habitare inspires, offers experiences and ideas for the interior design, function and visual presentation of homes and spaces.
Habitare 2025 More info Helsinki Biennial
Helsinki Biennial is an international art event that brings outstanding contemporary art to Helsinki’s archipelago nature.
Helsinki Biennial 2025 More info Night of the Arts
The Night of the Arts celebrations will spread across Helsinki with hundreds of other free events. The programme will include open rehearsals at various theatres, dance, circus, literary events and discussions, open doors to museums as well as a great variety of live music.
Fiskars Ironworks village tours
On this sustainable travel Finland certified and guided tour, a local expert will take you through the rich history and traditions of Fiskars Village.
Fiskars Ironworks village visit and guided tour The story of Finnish design
Utopia Now – The story of Finnish design is an exhibition featuring iconic pieces from the golden age of Finnish design of the 1950s, Nokia mobile phones and the Angry Birds game alike.
Utopia Now – The Story of Finnish Design Art Nuveau walking tours
This architectural walking tour explores urban planning in two of Helsinki’s most beautiful districts, known colorful Art Nouveau residential buildings.
Walking Tour: Architecture of Ullanlinna Vintage Market
Helsinki based vintage event concept. Curated vintage shops and collections at changing venues.
Decades of Finnish architecture
The permanent exhibition in the Museum of Finnish Architecture takes its visitors on a journey into the Finnish architecture of the 20th century.
Helsinki Art Walks
Experience Helsinki’s art galleries with this informative walking tour.
Wholesome flavours for gourmé lovers
Helsinki’s food scene is full of contrasts: high-end restaurants and humble harbour-side cafés, traditional rye bread and bold vegan innovations, wild forest berries and Michelin tasting menus. Similarly, Helsinki’s food year is packed with a great blend of events showcasing seasonal flavours, craft competitions, international food stands and summer terraces. Be ready to excite your taste buds and get your belly full of happiness on a plate (or pint).
Eat and drink events
Wine and Food Fair
Happening each October, Helsinki Wine and Food Fair brings international flavours and delicious wines to everyone’s finger tips.
Wine and Food Fair 2025 See the programme À la Park
À la Park is a multisensory event that brings music, food, and drink together in the spotlight for the first time in Finland in a festival format.
À la Park 2025 Tickets and info Helsinki Coffee Festival
Helsinki Coffee Festival is the most delicious event of the year, held at the Cable Factory. Come and taste coffee, tea, kombucha, ice cream and chocolate in a unique festival atmosphere!
Helsinki Coffee Festival 2026 Hotel and Restaurant Museum
Food and drink culture is never permanent, it continues to change all the time. It is influenced by individuals, communities, society, and the state. Find ‘Taste Matters’ and other interesting food culture exhibitions at the Hotel and Restaurant Museum in Cable Factory.
Taste Matters Helsinki summer terrases
Superterassi, Helsinki’s largest summer terrace at Kasarmitori welcomes locals, tourists and summer visitors to enjoy food, drink and events all summer long. More summer terraces can be found at Senatintori, Kallio and Kamppi.
Superterassi – Summer Terrace in Kasarmitori 2025 International Grand Market
Entrepreneurs from over 30 different countries and various regions of Finland will be present with their specialty products. The core idea of the Grand Markets is that the products sold come from different countries and regions, and the producers or growers themselves are there to sell and showcase their products.
Helsinki International Grand Market 2025 Burger Lovers Festival
Burger Lovers Festival is the first food festival in Finland specialized in burgers. The burger restaurants are published in the spring.
Craft Beer Garden
Craft Beer Garden Festival will take place in July at Coolhead Taproom & Terrace in Viikki district. The Craft Beer Garden Festival is offering world class beers, good music and delicious food. Age limit.
Craft Beer Garden Festivaali 2025 Licorice Festival
The Licorice Festival will be held in October at Wanha Satama premises. Visitors learn to experience licorice in many different ways: sweet, salty, with chocolate and as a spice in cooking and baking.
Fun for all ages
In Helsinki, you can find the whole city illuminated, run into people with mesmerizing cosplay costumes, or discover the world of Moomins in many forms. Helsinki is a city where kids and adults alike are free to play, experience new things, and immerse in the world of stories (let’s be honest, who would like to grow up anyway). The city hosts both, annual and one-time events to light up your mood.
Quirky events
Carnival of Lights
The “Carnival of Light” in Helsinki is an annual event at Linnanmäki, the city’s amusement park. It transforms the park into a dazzling display of light and color during the darkening autumn evenings.
Carnival of Lights 2025 Assembly Gaming
Come and experience the most diverse festival of the summer: four days of gaming, digital art, cosplay, good vibes, and fun together!
Helsinki Book Fair
Helsinki Book Fair is one of the most important events for lovers of literature in Finland. Helsinki Book Fair offers four days of new reads, discussions and chances to meet writers and lovers of literature.
Helsinki Book Fair 2025 Linnanmäki iik! week
Each year at Halloween, the horror festival iik!week takes over the Linnanmäki Amusement Park. Offering horrifying program, salty and sweet treats and much more, visitors are guaranteed to get spooked.
iik!week 2025 Lux Helsinki
Lux Helsinki is a light festival in Helsinki that is organised annually at the beginning of January. The festival presents a diverse range of light art.
Ice Cream & Chocolate Carnaval
Ice Cream & Chocolate Carnaval, held together with Helsinki Coffee Festival, happens simultaneously at the Cable Factory. Come and taste coffee, tea, kombucha, ice cream and chocolate in a unique festival atmosphere!
The Helsinki Cup
The Helsinki Cup is one of Europe’s biggest international junior football tournaments. The event attracts hundreds of teams to pitches throughout Helsinki, and over the past 30-plus years many different countries have been represented.
Helsinki Cup 2025 Helsinki Halloween Run
Dress in the Halloween costume, come to spend Halloween or just join to run a nice race. The costume is not necessary, so you can run the race also in normal clothes. The event is also open for children and young people, so groups can register there, too.
Helsinki Halloween Run 2025 Tove Jansson: Frescoes and Hobgoblin’s Hat
Through the Hobgoblin’s Hat installation, HAM encourages families with children to spend time with art. In the art huts within the exhibition space, visitors can engage with the art through touch and by experiencing the specially created soundscapes. Playing is also allowed!
Tove Jansson: Frescoes and Hobgoblin’s Hat Moomin Music from the 90s TV Series
The Moomin music of Sumio Shiratori has been the definitive soundtrack for Finns since the 1990s. These iconic pieces are now brought to life in a grand way – performed by a live orchestra at the Helsinki Music Centre.
Moomin Music from the 90s TV Series Tickets and info 
Discover public holidays and local seasons
Helsinki is a city of four seasons, and each season holds its signature public holidays or themed events. Be it the midsummer celebrations in June, large candle seas at All Saints’ Day, or visiting the traditional Christmas market for that holiday feeling, there are plenty of traditions to experience.
Seasonal events
Midsummer bonfire
The light summer night welcomes both the locals and the tourists to sing, dance and play together and admire the traditional bonfires (if there is no forest fire warning).
Seurasaari Midsummer Bonfire 2025 7 top tips for Midsummer in Helsinki Shrovetide
Shrovetide (Laskiainen), the first traditional holiday of the year, takes place seven weeks before Easter, starting off the time of lent. In celebration, Helsinki vibrates with wintry Finnish holiday traditions. Head to sledding hills, from Sinebrychoff Park to Kaisaniemi, for snowy downhill rides on a pulkka (sled in Finnish).
New Year's Eve
Helsinki’s New Year’s celebrations are held at Kansalaistori by Oodi library: activities for children, followed by an evening of music performances, culminating in fireworks or a pyrotechnics display.
Easter
Easter time is when the daffodils blossom in Helsinki. On Palm Sunday children dressed up as Easter witches go from door to door handing out pussy willow branches and wishing you good luck and health. In return they expect candies and chocolate eggs.
Easter in Helsinki Independence Day
December 6th starts with a Finnish flag-raising in Tähtitorninmäki at 9am. You can then attend a mid-day mass at Helsinki Cathedral, and in the evening, watch a torchlight procession march from Hietalahti cemetery to Senate Square.
Helsinki Christmas Market
Helsinki Christmas Market (or Tuomaan Markkinat in Finnish) is a Christmas market held every year in Helsinki, Finland. It is visited by more than 300,000 people every year. The event has been organized since 1994.
Vappu – May Day Celebrations
Each year on the 1st of May, the city bursts to life with student spirit, political pride, and picnic blankets as locals honour a holiday that’s part protest, part party, and all joy.
Vappu in Helsinki – A celebration of spring St. Lucia
Following old tradition, each year a young maiden is chosen to represent St. Lucia on Lucia Day 13 December.
Runeberg's Day
Finland’s national poet – J.L. Runeberg, is celebrated in the second month of the year with a signature Runeberg torte. This delightfully old-school pastry makes its much-anticipated comeback from early January to February.
7 best Runeberg Tortes in Helsinki World-class industry gatherings
Welcome to Helsinki—a city of innovation, collaboration, and endless opportunities. Join an unforgettable congress or event, and discover Helsinki as a destination while you are here. From annual tech mayhems to up and coming industry events, experience Helsinki as the first step towards your new chapter in Finland’s vibrant capital.
Business and industry events
Slush
In mid-November, Slush is the focal point for European and Asian startups, as well as tech talent to meet with top-tier international influencers, investors and media.
Slush 2025 More info Helsinki Music Week
In May, Helsinki Music Week hosts a variety of music industry focused events, as well as industry talks and club happenings.
Fashion in Helsinki
Fashion in Helsinki is a platform for the emerging talents in Finnish fashion. Fashion in Helsinki showcases Finnish creativity, artistic practice and unique craftsmanship trough fashion shows, presentations, exhibitions and talks to the consumers, global and local media and retailers in May.
Arctic15
Organised in June, ARCTIC15 is the Finnish startup conference designed to drive business value by connecting the vibrant local startup ecosystem with international guests.
Nordic Business Forum
Europe’s Largest Business & Leadership Event. Meet with over 7,000 business leaders from 40+ countries for two days of inspiration, knowledge, and connections.
ODDFest
Two days of big ideas and bold action. Talks, workshops, and co-creation by day. At night: music, theater, dance, and wild installations across eight stages.
Matka Nordic Travel Fair
Matka is the largest travel industry event in Northern Europe, bringing together tour operators, travel destinations and tourism organisations in January.
Matka Nordic Travel Fair 2026 
