Next year, Helsinki promises a remarkable cultural journey celebrating Finnish design, art, architecture, and storytelling.
The 20th Helsinki Design Week will highlight creativity and explore happiness as a design principle, envisioning a brighter, more hopeful future. The newly renovated Finlandia Hall, a masterpiece of modern architecture, will reopen in January with exciting new offerings, inviting visitors to explore themes of identity and creativity. The timeless Moomin stories, created by Tove Jansson, continue to welcome everyone into the Nordic magical world while the Helsinki Biennial will bring art and nature into dialogue under the theme “Shelter”.
Helsinki Design Week: A Celebration of Design and Happiness
Helsinki Design Week 2025 themed “Celebration” encourages reflection on achievement, envisioning mankind’s future with optimism and hope. The main exhibition and symposium, “How to Design Happiness”, focuses on the concept of happiness, offering a fresh perspective through the lens of design. Combining international and local elements, the exhibition will highlight the role of design in shaping well-being. Helsinki Design Week 2025 will also revisit some of its best moments from previous years, emphasising Helsinki’s role as a global hub for design and architecture.
Step Inside a Classic: Finlandia Hall Returns with New Experiences
Designed by Alvar Aalto and completed in 1971, Finlandia Hall is one of Finland’s most renowned modern architectural marvels. Following an extensive renovation, the building—formerly a venue for congresses and events—will reopen on January 4th. In addition, a permanent exhibition will be featured at Finlandia Hall in June 2025, offering an experiential exploration of both Finnish identity and the life, work and creative inspiration of Alvar, Aino, and Elissa Aalto.
80 years of Moomin: Tove Jansson’s Art and Imagination on Display in Helsinki
It all began with the first tale, The Moomins and the Great Flood, which was published in 1945. Written by Tove Jansson in Helsinki during World War II as a fairytale to comfort herself in dark times, the story follows Moominmamma and Moomintroll as they find a new home in Moominvalley. There, a tall blue house stands—a joyful and welcoming place where everyone is accepted, no matter who they are or when they arrive. Helsinki celebrates this anniversary year with two major exhibitions, Tove Jansson – Paradise (25.10.2024–6.4.2025) at HAM Helsinki Art Museum and a special exhibition at the Architecture and Design Museum Helsinki in October 2025.
Helsinki Biennial Brings Art on Land and at Sea
Helsinki Biennial 2025 is a summer-long celebration of art, hosted by Vallisaari Island, Esplanade Park, and HAM Helsinki Art Museum. Taking place from June 8 to September 21, 2025, the third edition will feature works by around 35 artists. The biennial explores the delicate relationship between humankind and nature under the theme “Shelter“.
