World Village Festival is transforming and moving from Suvilahti to central Helsinki. The traditional admission free event will be held a week earlier than usual, on May 16–17, 2026, at Bio Rex and in the Lasipalatsi, Mauno Koivisto and Narinkka squares. The theme of the sustainable development festival is Freedom.
Open call for programme proposals
We are looking for NGOs, civic actors, and other social organisations to create an impactful programme for the 2026 festival with the theme of Freedom. We welcome proposals for talks and discussions, films, exhibitions, and workshops.
Proposals for the talks and discussions programme can be submitted until December 7, 2025. The call for cultural programme and workshop proposals will be open until January 11, 2026.
Welcome to the planning session for the talks and discussions program on 19 November at 16–17.30. The session is held in Finnish.
Preliminary festival map and additional information for exhibitors published
Next year’s festival has stands for exhibitors and a wide range of special possibilities. Exhibitor tents will be located at Narinkkatori Square, and table spaces will be located at the Market of Opportunities in the Bio Rex lobby. Registration for exhibitors is open from January 15 to February 25, 2026.
If you are interested in a larger or customized participation in the festival, please contact the festival team. The price list will be published in November. Please note that the festival has a more limited number of stands for exhibitors than before and no longer offers sales spaces for street food vendors or craft sellers.
Flight emissions compensation to The Friends of Ancient Forest
The environmental impact of the festival is offset by, among other things, donating 10% of the total cost of flights for artists arriving from abroad to the environmental work of Fingo’s member organisation. This year, we have donated to The Friends of Ancient Forest. The association works to protect forest nature and increase awareness of conservation, as well as promoting the creation of new protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act and greater consideration for the natural values of commercial forests.
World Village Festival with the theme Freedom, 16–17 May 2026, in the Lasipalatsi District and at Narinkka Square, Helsinki. Admission is free!
More information
Programme: Johanna Eurakoski, johanna.eurakoski@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6696
Partners and cooperation: Marjo Martin, marjo.martin@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6694
Exhibitors and festival site production: Laura Valoma, laura.valoma@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6742
Communications: Nelli Korpi, nelli.korpi@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6698
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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 main organiser is Finnish Development NGOs Fingo.