Tornio Days

Tornio Days 9.-16.5.2026

To commemorate the founding of Tornio, the city festival Tornio Days is celebrated annually in early May. In 2026, Tornio—the oldest city in Lapland—will mark its 405th anniversary. Tornio Days includes a wide range of small and large events held throughout the city. Tornio invites everyone to take part in organizing and coming up with program content for Tornio Days. Tornio Days are created together!
You can register your event here!

Folk Festival Tornio405 9.5.2026

On Saturday, May 9, we will celebrate Tornio’s 405-year journey on the pedestrian section of Hallituskatu from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This celebration is from Tornio people to Tornio people—an event that reflects its residents, proudly unique and unmistakably its own.

During the event, the city’s annual scholarships and awards will be presented, and audiences can enjoy performances by local artists. Taking the stage, among others, are Tornio’s own Tango Queen Mira Sunnari with her band, as well as the children’s music duo Hulabaloo!

Outokumpu Stainless will also be part of the celebration, marking its own 50-year journey.
As part of the anniversary year, a new exhibition titled 50 Years of Stainless Steel from Tornio has just opened at the Tornio Valley Museum. The exhibition presents the history of the steelworks through photographs and videos. The historic photographs on display are from the 1970s and 1980s, while the newest images are from 2026.

On May 9, 2026, the museum will also host a lecture by Pekka Erkkilä on the history of Outokumpu’s Tornio plant.

Hedvig Eleonora Church 340 years 10.5.2026

Hedvig Eleonora Tornio Church’s 340th birthday mass on 10.5.26 at 12.00. After the mass, Mother’s Day brunch and cake coffee at the Suensaari parish house.

Birthday concert 12.5.2026

In honor of Tornio’s official founding date, we will enjoy a concert by the Meri-Lapland String Quartet at the Rajalla På Gränsen shopping center on May 12 at 5:30 p.m. The program blends classical sounds, well-known international melodies, and beloved Finnish evergreens.
With their sensitive and nuanced interpretation, the string quartet brings out the timeless beauty of rock, jazz, and film music classics. The concert will also feature cherished gems of Finnish music—tangos, waltzes, and folk-inspired melodies—that evoke memories and atmospheres from different decades.
Free admission – welcome!

Letkajenkka Challenge 13.5.2026

Let’s put Tornio on the world map with the letkajenkka!
The support team and student council of Putaa School invite everyone to join in the letkajenkka dance as part of the Tornio Days program on Wednesday, May 13 at 12:00 noon. The last time the letkajenkka was danced at the border was in 1963. The plan is to start from Hallituskatu and dance all the way through the Rajalla På Gränsen shopping center to Victoriantori. Come along—you too!

Also joining the fun is Vocational College Lappia, which will arrive at the shopping center to create a 100‑meter-long filled baguette!

Tornio Cleanup Day ja Siisti Biitsi volunteers 13.5.2026

Welcome to Tornio Cleanup Day! At the Keep Lapland Tidy Association point in Victoriatori, you will receive instructions about the area and collection points, as well as how to report litter. You will be provided with bags and tongs. It is a good idea to bring your own gloves.

Found litter can be reported using the Keep Islands Tidy Association’s Siisti Biitsi app or a paper form, and participants will be offered coffee, juice and snacks as a reward in addition to a good mood. Hard-working litter pickers can also participate in a raffle for great product prizes.

Arpelan Martat yard fleemarket and Exhibition 14.5.2026

Arpelan Martat will organize a yard sale and waffle café on Ascension Thursday, May 14, from 12:00 to 15:00 in the yard of Arpelan parish hall. Goods and products can be sold from the rear of a car or from your own table. The venue fee is 5€. Registration by tel. 0406260645 or auli.pietikainen@gmail.com by May 6.

THE MAGIC OF HANDMADE EXHIBITION May 14, 12:00 to 15:00, May 15, 15:00 to 18:00, May 16, 12:00 to 16:00 and May 17, 15:00 to 16:30 in the fireplace room of Arpelan parish hall (address: Keskustie 26). The exhibition is organized by Arpelan Martat in cooperation with craftsmen from nearby villages. Admission to the exhibition is free. We warmly welcome you!

Hapkult – Time tunnel 15.5.2026

Here’s a clear and engaging English translation:

The Time Tunnel will cross the border between Sweden and Finland at Victoriantori in Haparanda and Tornio on Friday, May 15, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Visitors can enter from either side of the border and move one hour forward or backward in time—transforming at the same time into a “new” person. The artwork offers an opportunity to experience and reflect on the nature of time and reality. The tunnel also features an interactive sound installation. Free admission – welcome!

Animal Portraits at Tornio city bay 16.5.2026

A photography trail circling the shoreline of City Bay showcases the work of nature photographers – from delicate close-ups to powerful encounters with wildlife. The opening of the art trail will take place on Saturday, 16 May 2026 at 12:00 PM.

The outdoor photography trail is free of charge and easily accessible. The open-air exhibition offers a low-threshold cultural experience, inviting people to go outdoors, observe their surroundings from a new perspective, and pause in the presence of nature.

The exhibition is produced by Tornio Camera Club and is part of the Oulu 2026 – European Capital of Culture programme. The project is supported by the Vappu and Oskari Yliperttula Foundation.

Kalottjazz&Blues Farewell night 16.5.2026