Next year, World Village Festival will be a more compact and accessible cultural and topical event that brings global themes to the heart of the city.
“The event will focus on social debate and an engaging cultural programme. Part of the programme will be produced through a network of organisations and partners, who will play a key role in making the festival happen. The festival offers a platform where communities, artists and activists can come together to create content for the public”, says Johanna Eurakoski, the festival’s Programme Manager.
The core values of the festival, namely diversity, community spirit, responsibility, equality, and inspiration, will remain unchanged. The event invites everyone to work together to build a future in which global challenges are met with joint action. World Village will continue to be open to everyone and free of charge, an inspiring arena for phenomena affecting the whole world and sustainable development.
The aim of the reform is to secure the future of this traditional and beloved festival
The reasons behind the festival’s renewal include years of sharp cost increases and the need to move to a more sustainable operating model.
“Producing a free, NGO based, festival of this size in the current global situation is challenging. The uncertainty affecting the NGO and cultural fields has a significant impact on World Village Festival”, says Salla Peltonen, Communications Director at Fingo, the festival’s organiser.
It is important to Fingo that the programme continues to focus on content that highlights sustainable development themes. The aim is to inform people about these issues and encourage them to promote a sustainable future in their everyday lives.
More detailed information about the upcoming festival will be available in the fall, and the first programmes will be published in early 2026.
The theme of next year’s festival is Freedom
The festival programme and content are built around a contemporary theme each year, and next year’s theme is Freedom. We live in a time when human rights and freedoms are being curtailed all over the world. Freedom is the ability to make choices and act independently as individuals and societies, to express oneself and participate in society. Freedom thrives in civil society, free media, science, art, and culture.
Open call for programme proposals opens in November
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 program and films 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.
Registration for exhibitors opens in December
Exhibitors, vendors, and partners at World Village Festival reach thousands of people interested in global solidarity, internationalism and organisational activities from around the world. More detailed information on participation opportunities will be available in the fall. Registration opens in December and closes in February. If you are interested in larger or customised participation in the festival, please contact us directly.
World Village 2025 online
World Village Festival on theme Freedom 16.–17.5.2026 in Lasipalatsi District, Helsinki. Admission free!
More information
Communications: Nelli Korpi, nelli.korpi@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6698
Partners and cooperation: Marjo Martin, marjo.martin@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6694
Programme: Johanna Eurakoski, johanna.eurakoski@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6696
Exhibitors and festival site production: Laura Valoma, laura.valoma@fingo.fi, +358 50 317 6742
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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 main organiser is Finnish Development NGOs Fingo.