XXVI Sång- och musikfesten is a choral and music festival in Helsinki in 2026 – in Swedish!
The joint choir concerts are at the heart of the Song- and music festival. Choirs interested in rehearsing the shared repertoire in advance and participating in the song and music festival are welcome to register in August–September 2025.
The language of the festival is Swedish, and communication will take place in Swedish, but many bilingual participants can be found among the choirs and orchestras. Everyone is therefore warmly welcome to sing with us på svenska! So now’s the time to bravely put your school Swedish to use! This invitation also applies to individual participants without a choir/ensemble.
When registering (August 1–September 30, 2025), choir sheet music booklets (€12) can be ordered, and you’ll get access to practice files. Participation is subject to a fee, and the cost for adult choir singers is €125. There is limited space on the choir risers, and choirs will be accepted as long as there is room, in order of registration.
Joint rehearsals will take place mainly during the spring of 2026, and participating choirs will be informed separately of dates and locations. When you come to the joint rehearsals, you should already know your own part. Preliminary information about the joint choir repertoire is available here.
The artistic director of the festival is Kari Turunen. The main organizer is Finlands svenska sång- och musikförbund rf, in cooperation with Helsingfors sång- och musikförbund rf.
It is estimated that more than 2,000 singers and orchestral musicians (from wind and string orchestras) will participate in the festival.
These song and music festivals are held every five years. Enjoy a joyful musical event with magnificent performances by mass choirs and orchestras – in Swedish! Sång- och musikfesten is a traditional grand event among Swedish speaking Finns. Welcome to join! Registration is open from August 1 to September 30, 2025, and takes place on this page.
The festival program highlights can be found here.
Contact information here.
Sound fun? Get in touch!
Song and music festival 2022 (photo: Frida Lönnroos)
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
(The language of the event is Swedish)
Thursday 11.6:
The choir conductors’ day (not open to the public)
Friday 12.6.
Carousel concerts (optional for individual choirs, if scheduling allows) (open for the public, no attendance fees)
Joint rehearsal at Kansalaistori, in front of Oodi (mandatory for participants) (open for the public, no attendance fees)
Wind/brass orchestra concert at Kansalaistori, in front of Oodi (open for the public, no attendance fees)
Opening concert at Kansalaistori, in front of Oodi (open for the public, no attendance fees)
String orchestra concert at the Helsinki Cathedral (open for the public, no attendance fees)
Choir carousel for selected choirs at the Helsinki Cathedral (open for the public, no attendance fees)
Profile concerts (top-level choirs, ticketed events)
Song café/pub (open for the public)
Saturday 13.6.
Joint rehearsal at Kansalaistori, in front of Oodi (mandatory for participants) (open for the public, no attendance fees)
Festival parade, starting from the Old Church Park along Mannerheimintie to Kansalaistori
Main concert at Kansalaistori, in front of Oodi (open for the public, no attendance fees)
Festival dinner at Finlandia Hall (ticketed) (not open to the public)
Sunnuntai 14.6.
Children’s and youth choir concert at Kansalaistori (open for the public, no attendance fees)
PULS, big rhythm choir rehearsal + concert at Kansalaistori, in front of Oodi (open for the public, no attendance fees)
Music worship service / concert at St. John's Church (open for the public, no attendance fees)