Päivitä Leino

On Eino Leino Day, the public will be treated to the country’s leading poets, spoken word artists and singer-songwriters taking to the stage in what has become a tradition to honour our national poet.

This year, the programme will feature two-time Finlandia Prize-winning author Jukka Viikilä; poet Aura Nurmi, who writes about deprivation and the beauty of life’s little details; singer-songwriter Miika Leivo; Turku-based writer and mixed literary worker Susinukke Kosola (Daniil Kozlov); and spoken word artist Rauhatäti. The recipient of the 2026 Eino Leino Prize will also be announced during the event.

The event is organised by the Eino Leino Society with the support of the City of Helsinki. The afternoon will be hosted by poet Harri Hertell. We hope to see you there!

Schedule

15.00 | Jukka Viikilä
Jukka Viikilä is a two-time Finlandia Prize-winning author who has published both novels and poetry.

15.20 | Aura Nurmi
Aura Nurmi is an award-winning poet and writer based in Helsinki, whose work often deals with poverty and deprivation, but also with the beauty and happiness that can be found in the little things in life.

15.40 | Miika Leivo
Miika Leivo, who recently found his way to Lahti, combines folk and indie music from around the globe with the Finnish songwriting tradition. It can be melancholy in the Finnish tradition, but it will not overwhelm the audience. His debut album Nääj released in 2024 received four stars in Pekka Laine’s reviews and the songs are playing on radio frequencies and playlists. The album was produced by Pentti Amore, who produced the first record by Maustetytöt. Known for his intense performances, Miika has been seen opening for Samuli Putro and Edu Kettunen, among others. He will be releasing new music in 2026.

16.00 | Eino Leino Prize winner announcement
The Eino Leino Prize is a literary prize with an award sum of 5,200 euros awarded by the Finnish Book Foundation since 1956. The recipient of the 2025 prize will be announced on Espa Stage.

16.10 | Susinukke Kosola
Daniil Kozlov (b. 1991), pen name Susinukke Kosola, is a writer and a mixed literary worker from St Petersburg living in Turku. He has published three books of poetry, a genre hybrid work and a novel, which have received critical acclaim, awards and nominations. His third work, Varisto, is also experimental in its form – the collection written entirely by hand cannot be bought, only received in exchange for recognition. His fourth work, Turkoosi vyöhyke, is a genre hybrid that combines poetry, essays and the verse novel form. Kosola’s latest work is RYSSÄ, a personal work of prose. Kosola is also known as the founder and lyric poet of the Kolera-kollektiivi collective, a publishing house focusing on poetry and social literature, and as the creator and leader of the national Runografi project. In addition to his artistic work, he teaches lyric writing at the University of Turku and is active in the local literary scene.

16.30 | Rauhatäti & Jussi Vainiola
Rauhatäti aka Hanna Yli-Tepsa is a Finnish rap and spoken word artist who has been releasing music and performing on rap and poetry stages since 2007. Guitarist Juissi Vainiola is known from the postpunk scene, among others for his trio Maaseudun tulevaisuus. Now Rauhatäti and Vainiola wrap the audience inside a foggy ambience and head to the island of Kirke, to the streets of Tallinn at night and finally to the rivers flowing southwards.