World Village Festival returns to Suvilahti in Helsinki on the last weekend of May next year. The festival brings together CSOs, other social actors and the public for music, discussions, workshops and street food. The festival’s theme is UTOPIA – what kind of world is possible.
– The spring 2026 festival in the Lasipalatsi District and at Narinkka Square provided us with valuable insights into different ways of organising World Village Festival. We are returning to Suvilahti because this cohesive area facilitates encounters between organisations and the public and enables a diverse programme, participation and the inclusion of food vendors as part of the festival experience, explains the festival’s Communications Manager, Nelli Korpi.
As usual, the programme will feature music, talks, workshops, activities for the whole family, and stands run by NGOs and other exhibitors.
– Next year’s World Village Festival will be a more compact event than previous Suvilahti festivals. We are channelling our resources into the core of the event: high-quality content, audience participation and concrete opportunities for action. As for food, we will continue to focus on vegetarian options, she adds.
World Village Festival will continue to be an inspiring arena, open to all and free of charge, exploring global issues and sustainable development.
The theme for the 2027 festival is UTOPIA – what kind of world is possible
Next year’s festival theme is UTOPIA – what kind of world is possible. Utopia invites us to imagine what a just and sustainable world might look like – and to seek concrete ways to build it together. The festival will explore alternatives for the future and the actions and changes required to achieve them. At the heart of the event is a globally just transition towards sustainability: how we can work together to build a better future in an ecological, socially and economically sustainable way.
The call for programme opens in October and exhibitor registration opens in November
The festival is seeking programme content in line with the UTOPIA theme. Producing programme offers organisations the opportunity to raise awareness of their work and reach new audiences. The festival has plenty of space for a wide range of exhibitor activities and offers an excellent opportunity to showcase your work, meet the public face-to-face and engage new people. Through partnerships, you can gain wider visibility and collaborate with the festival on specially planned initiatives.
The programme call for entries opens in October and registration for exhibitors opens in November. Further details on how to take part will be published during the autumn. If you’re planning to increase your visibility, put together your own programme or arrange a tailored collaboration, you can get in touch with us now. We aim to ensure that all Fingo member organisations can take part in the festival if they wish.
Sparring session for CSOs planning to apply for talks and discussions programme Wed 11 November, 15.30–17.30
Get practical tips on how to put together a strong talks and discussions programme proposal, learn about the selection criteria, and get feedback on your own idea. The session is held in Finnish.
Come network and build the festival together Mon 16 November, 15.00–17.30
Are you looking for ideas on how your organisation could take part in World Village Festival, or for partners to collaborate with on a programme, an exhibitor stand, or something completely new? Come meet other organisations and the festival team, hear about the plans for 2027, and discover new opportunities for collaboration.
Offsetting flight emissions for the Finnish Association for Fair Tourism
We are addressing the environmental impact of the festival by, for example, donating ten per cent of the total cost of flights for artists travelling from abroad to a Fingo member NGO’s environmental work. This year, we donated to the Finnish Association for Fair Tourism. The association promotes responsible tourism by raising awareness of the principles of fair travel and by facilitating dialogue between different stakeholders on ethical choices and their significance in tourism.
World Village Festival 2026 online
World Village Festival 29–30 May 2027 in Suvilahti, Helsinki with the theme UTOPIA – what kind of world is possible. Admission free!
More information
Communications: Nelli Korpi, nelli.korpi@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6698
Programme, cooperation: Johanna Eurakoski, johanna.eurakoski@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6696
Exhibitors and festival site production: Juuso Liukkonen, juuso.liukkonen@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6713
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World Village Festival is a sustainable development festival that has been held since 1995. It promotes discussion on current global issues and encourages people to act for a more sustainable world. The festival is organised by Finnish development organizations Fingo. The festival was held in Suvilahti from 2023 to 2025 and in the Lasipalatsi District and Narinkkatori in central Helsinki in 2026. For many years, the festival was held in Kaisaniemi Park, where renovation work is set to continue well into next year. The festival’s values are diversity, community spirit, responsibility, equality and inspiration. The main organiser is Finnish Development NGOs Fingo.
