Jaakko Löytty (b. 1955) is one of the founding figures of Finnish gospel music, with a catalogue of nearly 1,000 songs and over 30 albums spanning more than five decades. He grew up partly in Namibia, where his parents served as missionaries, and later worked as a missionary himself in Senegal - experiences that shaped his musical palette of blues, country and African sounds. Several of his songs, including Kahden maan kansalainen, have entered the official Finnish hymnal, and his work has earned him the Golden Gospel Award (1997) and the Church Cultural Prize (2015).
Löytty received the Glow Festival Lifetime Achievement Award at Nokia Arena in Tampere in August 2025.
His 70th-birthday album Elämä piirtyy pientareelle was released in March 2025 on Humble House Records, produced by Sami Asp.
The 70th-anniversary tour Elämä piirtyy pientareelle concluded in Salo at the Herättäjäjuhlat festival, drawing over a thousand listeners.
A double biography Luomiskertomus covering Löytty's and Kaija Pispa's life was published by Kirjapaja in July 2025.
Löytty was granted a state artist pension in 2024.
festival19:30in 4 days
A church music festival featuring six concerts from 28 July to 2 August 2026. The programme includes classical music, choral works, organ and vocal concerts, and children's music.
festival19:00in 5 days
A six-concert classical music festival in Lohtaja and Kokkola featuring choral music, solo singing, organ, and children's music from 28 July to 2 August.