Päivitä Leino

Päivitä Leino is a traditional poetry festival held on Eino Leino's day at Espa stage. The event is organized by the Eino Leino Society with the support of the City of Helsinki, and poet Harri Hertell serves as host.

The event also announces the recipient of the 2026 Eino Leino Prize. The prize is a literary award that has been presented since 1956, with a prize sum of 5,200 euros - it is donated by the Finnish Book Foundation.

Programme

15.00 | Jukka Viikilä
A twice Finlandia Prize-winning author who has published both novels and poetry collections.

15.20 | Aura Nurmi
A Helsinki-based award-winning poet and author whose texts address poverty and social exclusion as well as beauty and happiness flowing from life's details.

15.40 | Miika Leivo
A singer-songwriter who recently moved to Lahti and combines folk and indie influences with Finnish songwriting tradition. His debut album Nääj, released in 2024, was produced by Pentti Amore - the same person who produced Maustetytöt's first album. The album received four stars in Pekka Laine's review, and the songs have been played on radio frequencies and playlists. Miika has warmed up stages for artists including Samuli Putro and Edu Kettunen. New music is planned for 2026.

16.00 | Announcement of the 2026 Eino Leino Prize recipient

16.10 | Susinukke Kosola
Daniil Kozlov (born 1991), stage name Susinukke Kosola, is a writer born in Saint Petersburg who lives in Turku and works in the literary field. He has published three poetry collections, one genre hybrid, and one novel. His third work Varisto is experimental in its publication form as well - the entirely handwritten collection cannot be purchased but can only be obtained in exchange for recognition. His fourth work Turkoosi vyöhyke combines poetry, essays, and verse-novel form. His latest work is RYSSÄ, representing personal prose. Kosola is also the founder of Kolera-kollektiivi publishing house, which focuses on poetry and socially relevant literature, and is involved in the national Runografi project.