Espoo Book Festival

Name: Espoo Book Festival
Start: 2026-11-14T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-11-14T17:00:00+02:00
Location: Lippulaivan kirjasto

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 · 10:00 — 17:00

Lippulaivan kirjasto, Espoo

ilmainen

festival family culture free

Espoo Book Festival — Lippulaivan kirjasto, Espoo

Free entry

Espoo Book Festival 2026 focuses on literacy. It is a free family event that brings together literature and theatre enthusiasts at Lippulaivan Library.

The programme features a panel discussion on literacy with literacy ambassador Aleksis Salusjärvi, publishing industry professional Anna-Riikka Carlson, and Emmi Jäkkö, director of the Reading Centre. Featured authors being interviewed include Niko Hallikainen, Tarita Ikonen, J.S. Meresmaa, Sanna Pelliccioni, Niko Rantsi, Kirsi Siren, and Randa al-Dawoudi. The programme also includes a dream workshop for young people, children's theatre performances (including from Espoo Circus and Theatre School ESKO and Teatteri Hyökyvuori), a story corner for children, and the festival's own open mic poetry evening at the end of the day. An actor from Teatteri Hevosenkengä will read stories to children.

At the heart of the event are the exhibitors: small publishers, larger publishing houses, and authors with their own works. The festival café is run this year by Kauka-Kuutit, scouts from Kauklahti.

The event is organised in collaboration between Espoo Writers and the Espoo City Theatre Support Association, with Lippulaivan Library and the Espoonlahti Cultural Initiative as partners. The event has received support from the Espoo Culture Committee.

More information: espoon.kirjailijat@gmail.com and sinikka.mantysalo@gmail.com
Website: https://espoonkirjailijat.fi/espoon-kirjafestarit-2026/

Line-up

Aleksis Salusjärvi
Anna-Riikka Carlson
Emmi Jäkkö
Niko Hallikainen
Tarita Ikonen
J.S. Meresmaa
Sanna Pelliccioni
Niko Rantsi
Kirsi Siren
Randa al-Dawoudi
Espoon sirkus- ja teatterikoulu ESKO
Teatteri Hyökyvuori
Teatteri Hevosenkengä

About: Aleksis Salusjärvi

Critic, journalist, and literacy advocate Aleksis Salusjärvi has spent years working at the intersection of literature and social inclusion - from chairing the Finlandia Prize jury to running rap-based reading workshops for thousands of young people across Finland.

10000+

Young people reached through Sanat haltuun workshops

25000€

Tanner Prize value (2025)

What's new

2025-03
Salusjärvi was awarded the 25,000-euro Tanner Prize on 12 March 2025 for his sustained work in building young people's literacy, self-esteem, and social participation through literature.
2025-05
Salusjärvi gave a keynote presentation on inspiring reluctant young readers and uncovering hidden skills at the national 'Yhteispeliä!' webinar on 14 May 2025.
2024-09
Salusjärvi spoke at Sanoma Pro's Balanssi event in September 2024, framing literacy as a survival skill and discussing Finland's best-performing PISA schools.

Tracks

Sanat haltuun -hankeLiteracy project using rap lyrics in vocational schools, running since 2016, reaching nearly 10,000 young people across Finland.

Särmä (Otava, yläkoulu)Co-authored Finnish-language textbook series for lower secondary schools, widely used across Finland.

Kiiltomato-verkkolehtiLiterary criticism online journal published by Lukukeskus, which Salusjärvi edited 2014-2020.

Sankaritarinoita pojille (ja kaikille muille)Co-edited anthology of stories about courageous men, published by Into-Kustannus in 2019.

Espoo Book Festival

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