Annikki Poetry Festival 2026

The Annikki Poetry Festival will be held in the courtyard of the Annikki Wooden Quarter in Tampere, Finland, on 6 June 2026. Now organised for the 18th time, the festival will celebrate Finland’s linguistic diversity and international atmosphere with the theme Babel Finland. Once again, the festival will offer a high-quality selection of Finnish and international performers: poets, prose writers, music artists, intriguing combinations of poetry and music, multi-arts performance, children’s programme and visual arts in the unique setting offered by the wooden quarter built over 100 years ago.

THE PERFORMERS

The linguistic and cultural backgrounds of the performers represent the wide range of languages in Finland. Finnishs performers at the Annikki Poetry Festival will include Ánnámáret, Hassan Blasim, Monika Fagerholm, Hilja Grönfors, Satu Kankaanpää & Juhana Salonen, Daniil Kozlov, Kölö & Satu Kae, Tania Nathan & Sointi Jazz Ensemble, Nihkee & Saarten tyttäret, Risto Rasa, The Shameless Shongololo Band, Vy Tram and Suvi West.

International guest poets will represent countries from which the festival has not had any performers before. They are Tomas Venclova (LT), Tenzin Tsundue (IN/Tibet), Regina Roze (MX) and Ox Maló (AT/AR). See the festival schedule!

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMME, FOOD & TREATS, OPEN MIC & BOOK BAZAAR IN THE FESTIVAL PARK

The previous poetry festival attracted a record number of guests, causing occasional congestion. Due to this, the park located next to the wooden quarter will now house not only restaurant services but also the book bazaar and children’s programme, which were previously located in the courtyard. The Annikki festival park is a free area open to everyone, and it will offer entertainment throughout the day, including the open mic for poets.

THE TITLE ARTIST

The title artist of the poetry festival, Katariina Lillqvist is a film director, writer and cultural figure known as the pioneer of puppet animation in Finland. Puppets from Katariina Lillqvist’s animations will be on display at the Annikki Stone Kiosk (Kivikioski), while her films on Romani themes can be viewed non-stop in the Cellar Gallery (Kellarigalleria).

THE POETRY MURALS

The festival will also give attention to two murals on the walls of adjacent buildings close to the venue: Villiomenapuu (Wild Apple Tree) is dedicated to poet Kirsi Kunnas, and Runopuu (Tree of Poetry) honours the work of poet Mirkka Rekola. Together, they form a combination of poetry and visual arts that is unique of its kind in Finland. Read more!