People enjoying Lux Helsinki. Photo: Matti Pyykkö, Helsinki PartnersFinland has been named the world’s happiest country for six years in a row. In Helsinki, this happiness is backed up by their goal of creating a sustainable and open city for everyone, where opportunities and experiences – like nature and the sea – are within everyone's reach. Lux Helsinki and the Tall Ship Races are free events that are once again bringing people together in 2024. The city's shoreline is being opened up even more, and a new theme playground invites children to discover the world of computers while playing – without smart devices. The novelties offered by Helsinki’s restaurants in turn draw their inspiration from the city's history and today's multiculturalism.
Where art and science interact
The theme of the Lux Helsinki light festival in 2024 is “science from art”. The popular event attracts locals and visitors to enjoy the light art and share their insights and art experiences. This year’s programme comprises 21 installations in different parts of the city that can be experienced in any order between 5pm and 10pm from Wednesday to Sunday, 3–7 January 2024. Helsinki Cathedral has become an almost iconic and highly anticipated Lux Helsinki attraction each year. This time, a unique 360-degree experience will be created in Senate Square, where the façades of the surrounding buildings will be the backdrop for up to three different light installations. The approximately 20-minute show will feature the installations Symmetry by Janne Ahola, Northern Touch by Katariina Souri, and Helix by Weltraumgrafik, each of which will be performed in turn.
“Art is often and at its best an exploration, just like science. Both offer insights and discoveries to the openminded seeker, and you can never be sure what the expedition will uncover,” explains Juha Rouhikoski, Artistic Director of Lux Helsinki.
Helsinki believes strongly that new ideas and phenomena are created when different thoughts and people interact. Aalto University was created specifically as this kind of permanent meeting place where science and art experts can together create new innovations. Next autumn, Aalto University wants to invite everyone to see what they are all about. On 3 September 2024, Aalto’s new Marsio building will officially open, providing an arena for dialogue between researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and the public, as well as state-of-the-art digital technologies for teaching and research. Marsio will offer a place for radical creativity, experimentation and new thinking, just like its role model Aino Marsio-Aalto, and its exhibition area will bring to life the university’s wide impact through science, art, tech and business.
Illustration of the computer-themed playground designed by Linda Liukas.
Building a more sustainable and fun city
Helsinki is a rapidly growing and developing city, and its shoreline in particular is undergoing a major transformation now that industry moved out of the city centre. The iconic South Harbour will also get a new look when construction of the new wooden Stora Enso head office is completed in Katajanokanlaituri. The impressive building will also include a hotel, meeting and congress facilities, and a café and restaurant open to all. Designed by Anttinen Oiva Architects, the building has been created from solid wood building elements that store carbon dioxide. Building from pre-made building elements according to dimensions shortens construction time, reduces costs and improves the utilisation of raw materials. In 2024, an international architecture competition for a new museum of architecture and design will also be announced. The new museum will be built in a prime location behind the Old Market Hall by the South Harbour. The city's goal is to develop this area as a common maritime recreation place for everyone and to open up the shoreline even better for local residents and visitors.
In autumn 2024, Helsinki will get the world's first computer-themed playground when the renovation of the Ruoholahti playground is completed. In the new playground, children will be able to discover the world of computers and programming while playing – without smart devices. The highlight of the playground will be its special themed play equipment, which has been designed and realised according to the ideas of author and illustrator Linda Liukas, who is known for her Hello Ruby books that teach programming. The renovation of the Ruoholahti playground is part of the 110th anniversary of Helsinki’s playgrounds. In the future, the city aims to implement more playgrounds with different themes.
Kozeen Shiwan in his restaurant The Room, photos: Helmi Padatsu and Tuomas Lindgren
Food made from the ingredients of happiness
What makes Helsinki’s food culture unique are the high-quality, clean local ingredients, a creative approach and an Eastern influence that differs from the other Nordic countries, as well as new innovations and multiculturalism. In January, the forward-looking The Room opens with a menu that tells the life story of owner Kozeen Shiwan: a journey from Kurdistan through Turkey to Finland and a love for skateboarding, music, art and fashion. Shiwan has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in Finland and abroad, and the overall experience of the restaurant strives for its own star. In addition to its traditional stars, the Michelin Guide also awards green stars to restaurants that offer first-class environmentally friendly dining experiences. Helsinki has no less than three Green Star restaurants: Grön, Nolla and Natura.
At the beginning of 2024, Cajsan Helmi will open in one of Finland’s oldest restaurant buildings. The original part of the classic Kaisaniemi restaurant was completed in 1839, and now the entire building has been wonderfully renovated while respecting its history. Hietaniemi Market Hall is another interesting attraction where you can enjoy food in a historical milieu. Today, it functions as a restaurant and café hall that offers atmospheric culinary voyages around the world: to the Philippines, Japan, France, Italy, the Middle East…
The Tall Ships Races was last held in Helsinki in summer 2013. Photo: Lauri Rotko, Helsinki Partners
Celebrating the seaside
Helsinki has more than 130 kilometres of shoreline and more than 300 islands. In July 2024, almost 50 spectacular sailing ships will call on Helsinki, when the annual The Tall Ships Races returns to the Finnish capital from 4 to 7 July 2024. The event is expected to attract 500,000 visitors. The most spectacular ships will arrive from Poland, the largest of which is the nearly hundred-meter class A full-rigged ship Dar Mlodziez. All local residents and visitors are invited to enjoy the atmosphere and participate in the versatile and free-of-charge programme, which includes live music, panel discussions focused on the protection of the Baltic Sea, and interactive art among the public. The Tall Ships Races sailing event promotes the education and cooperation of young people regardless of nationality, cultural background, religion or social background. The City of Helsinki is sending one hundred young people between the ages of 15 and 25 to sail on the ships participating in the competition. The venue for the event will be the South Harbour, Market Square, Katajanokka, Kanavaranta and Pohjoisranta.
MyHelsinki.fi, the official website of the city marketing company Helsinki Partners, is your local guide for discovering the most inspiring sights, events and novelties in Helsinki.
