Kajaani Poetry Week

Name: Kajaani Poetry Week
Start: 2026-07-01
End: 2026-07-05
Location: Kajaani

took place · 1 Jul 2026

Kajaani

festival family culture

Similar events still on

Description was written before the event

Kajaani Poetry Week is Finland's oldest and largest festival dedicated to poetry, recitation, and small-scale theatre for the whole family. The programme features performances across multiple art forms, author meetings, and discussions - surprising, entertaining, and firmly rooted in contemporary culture.

About the festival: Kajaani Poetry Week

50th edition

anniversary

~7 000

visitors (2025 edition)

~150

performers (2025 edition)

>50%

visitors from outside Kainuu region

Good to know

Runs 5 days: Wed 1 July - Sun 5 July 2026
Tickets from 25 EUR per show (via Lippu.fi)
Over 30 ticketed shows + extensive free programme
No door sales - buy tickets in advance at Lippu.fi or Kajaani Info
Venues: Kaukametsä Congress & Culture Centre, Kajaani City Theatre, and various city locations
All-ages festival, family-friendly
50th anniversary edition - part of Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture programme
No camping on site - city-centre hotel accommodation recommended

What's new

2026-04
The full 2026 programme was published and ticket sales opened on 7 April 2026.
2026-04
Two world premieres are on the bill: Juha Hurme's production completing his Baltic-Finnic poetry trilogy, and Veikko Halmetoja & Ella Pyhältö's show based on past Poets of Summer.
2026-01
Poet Elli Leppä was named the 2026 Poet of Summer (Suven runoilija).
2026-04
For the first time, part of the festival programme will be performed on the Kajaani-Oulu train route as part of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture year.

Headliners

Elli Leppä Juha Hurme Veikko Halmetoja Ella Pyhältö Iiro Kajas Malla Kuuranne Emilia Lajunen Anna Fält Mikko Roiha

Here's how it looked last time

Photo: Jukka Hämeenmäki

Photo: Kajaanin Runoviikko

Kajaani Poetry Week

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