NEWS DIGEST
Cultural Services in Espoo and Vantaa Under Pressure From 500-Job Threat
Espoo and Vantaa are preparing layoff talks that could lead to the loss of 500 city jobs. The potential job cuts may weaken everyday services for residents, with cultural services like libraries, sports facilities and concert halls among the areas most at risk due to reduced staffing and heavier workloads for remaining employees.
The Search for Finland’s Eurovision Entry Starts Now
The submission window for UMK27 is open from August 17 to August 23.
GALLERY: Inside Flow Festival Day 2 with 32,000 Attendees
Flow Festival lit up Helsinki’s Suvilahti district on a sunny Saturday. We captured some of the best moments in photos.
Finnish ‘Backwood Madness’ Wins Top Horror Honor
‘Backwood Madness’ wins Best Feature at the Spring 2026 Independent Horror Movie Awards, topping a strong field of international independent horror films.
32,000 Turn Out for Flow Festival’s Opening Day
Flow Festival 2026 kicked off in Helsinki’s Suvilahti with a sold-out opening day and 32,000 visitors soaking up bright summer weather across the renewed festival site.
MORE CURRENT NEWS
‘IKINÄ & The Choir of Hecate’ Gig Review: No Snow Whites Here
IKINÄ and the Choir of Hecate delivered a powerful live collaboration that celebrated female metal talent, fierce vocals and unforgettable songs like “Elämänviiva,” “Lautturi” and “Jumalatar.”
700,000 Stories: Helsinki Celebrates Its Growing Population
Helsinki is set to exceed 700,000 residents in August 2026. Learn how migration, diversity and population growth are shaping Finland’s capital.
‘The End of Oak Street’ Film Review: A Lynchian Time Warp with Jurassic Ambitions
In this film review, David Robert Mitchell’s ‘The End of Oak Street’ follows a suburban family in 1982 whose quiet neighborhood is upended by time travel. The film blends horror, Lynchian detail and Spielberg-scale ambition, while keeping its emotional focus firmly on the people at the center.
‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ Film Review: The Antichrist Wears Plastic Overalls
Jane Schoenburn’s ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ is a nearly unwatchable lakeside slasher that mistakes gore, sex, absurdity and satanic imagery for filmmaking.
Scorpions Still Sting in Helsinki
Scorpions proved at Veikkaus Arena that they still have plenty of life left in them, delivering a polished hard-rock show before 10,600 fans in Helsinki.
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Politics
Millions Earmarked to Enhance Finland’s Anti‑Drone Shield
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns) emphasized a million investment as crucial for improving detection and countering of drones along Finland’s eastern border and coastline.
President Stubb Heads to Egypt for High‑Level Talks
President Alexander Stubb will visit Egypt on Tuesday for high-level discussions, cultural engagements and business connections.
Tourist Tax Plan Set to Shake Up Finnish Travel
Finland is planning a tourist tax that may leave travelers paying more for their trip.
Stubb and Valtonen Join Key Meetings in Washington, D.C.
Finland’s president and foreign minister will visit Washington in mid-April for the annual Bilderberg Meeting, followed by public talks and high-level meetings across the U.S. capital.
Finland and Canada Set for Busy Bilateral Visit
Finland’s president will spend two days in Ottawa meeting Canadian leaders,...
Music
The Search for Finland’s Eurovision Entry Starts Now
The submission window for UMK27 is open from August 17 to August 23.
GALLERY: Inside Flow Festival Day 2 with 32,000 Attendees
Flow Festival lit up Helsinki’s Suvilahti district on a sunny Saturday. We captured some of the best moments in photos.
32,000 Turn Out for Flow Festival’s Opening Day
Flow Festival 2026 kicked off in Helsinki’s Suvilahti with a sold-out opening day and 32,000 visitors soaking up bright summer weather across the renewed festival site.
‘IKINÄ & The Choir of Hecate’ Gig Review: No Snow Whites Here
IKINÄ and the Choir of Hecate delivered a powerful live collaboration that celebrated female metal talent, fierce vocals and unforgettable songs like “Elämänviiva,” “Lautturi” and “Jumalatar.”
Hell Awaits: Helsinki’s Heavy Metal Weekend Is Calling
Hellsinki Metal Festival returns to Helsinki with Black Label Society, Accept, Paradise Lost, Opeth and more for a weekend of heavyweight riffs and Finnish metal talent.
Films
Finnish ‘Backwood Madness’ Wins Top Horror Honor
‘Backwood Madness’ wins Best Feature at the Spring 2026 Independent Horror Movie Awards, topping a strong field of international independent horror films.
‘The End of Oak Street’ Film Review: A Lynchian Time Warp with Jurassic Ambitions
In this film review, David Robert Mitchell’s ‘The End of Oak Street’ follows a suburban family in 1982 whose quiet neighborhood is upended by time travel. The film blends horror, Lynchian detail and Spielberg-scale ambition, while keeping its emotional focus firmly on the people at the center.
‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ Film Review: The Antichrist Wears Plastic Overalls
Jane Schoenburn’s ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ is a nearly unwatchable lakeside slasher that mistakes gore, sex, absurdity and satanic imagery for filmmaking.
‘Deathstalker’ Film Review: A Bloody Good Time
Deathstalker review: Steven Kostanski’s rebooted cult fantasy mixes practical effects, brutal action, Slash’s music and Daniel Bernhardt’s fight-heavy performance in a gory throwback built for modern audiences.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Film Review: When the View Is Better Than the Ride
Tom Holland does what he can in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ yet the film often feels like a letdown between brief bursts of action.
Business
A Three‑Day Coffee Wonderland Is Brewing in Helsinki
A three-day flavor festival is set to take place at the Helsinki Cable Factory.
Yle: Fuel Costs Force Slower Sailings on the Helsinki–Stockholm Line
Viking Line will slow its Helsinki–Stockholm crossings from April 13 to save fuel as costs rise amid the war in Iran. The company is shifting departure times but keeping fares steady, while Tallink Silja is making similar changes.
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov Visits Finland for Talks on Bilateral Relations and Security Policy
Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov of Uzbekistan is visiting Finland to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss foreign and security policy with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP).
President Stubb to Strengthen Ties with India on Landmark 2026 State Visit Beginning Today
President Alexander Stubb is scheduled to visit India from March 4 to 7, 2026, representing an important move toward enhancing bilateral relations.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen to Visit Rome for Diplomatic Talks, Business Forum and Arctic Policy Speech
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) is scheduled to visit Rome from March 2 to 3 to enhance diplomatic and economic relations between Finland and Italy.
Helsinki
GALLERY: Inside Flow Festival Day 2 with 32,000 Attendees
Flow Festival lit up Helsinki’s Suvilahti district on a sunny Saturday. We captured some of the best moments in photos.
32,000 Turn Out for Flow Festival’s Opening Day
Flow Festival 2026 kicked off in Helsinki’s Suvilahti with a sold-out opening day and 32,000 visitors soaking up bright summer weather across the renewed festival site.
‘IKINÄ & The Choir of Hecate’ Gig Review: No Snow Whites Here
IKINÄ and the Choir of Hecate delivered a powerful live collaboration that celebrated female metal talent, fierce vocals and unforgettable songs like “Elämänviiva,” “Lautturi” and “Jumalatar.”
700,000 Stories: Helsinki Celebrates Its Growing Population
Helsinki is set to exceed 700,000 residents in August 2026. Learn how migration, diversity and population growth are shaping Finland’s capital.
Hell Awaits: Helsinki’s Heavy Metal Weekend Is Calling
Hellsinki Metal Festival returns to Helsinki with Black Label Society, Accept, Paradise Lost, Opeth and more for a weekend of heavyweight riffs and Finnish metal talent.