The Helsinki City Library dedicates this autumn to love. The programme for the ‘About love’ event series starts in September. It ranges from community singing to author visits, and from poetry recitals to speed dating. The open poetry competition invites everyone to share their interpretation of love.
The theme of love feels particularly important in these times of conflict and confrontation. The library aims to bring people into contact with the experiences that unite us.
‘Love touches everyone. Literature and art help us to step into someone else’s shoes for a moment and can therefore strengthen understanding and empathy. In a world rife with wars and polarisation, we long for connection with others, including those we do not always understand,’ says Niina Holm, information specialist at Oodi.
The open poetry competition seeks new love poems
The Helsinki City Library is organising a poetry competition which invites people to write about love in its many forms. The competition period is 14 September–18 October 2026. The love poetry competition is open to everyone aged 15 and over, and the participating poems can be written in Finnish, Swedish or English.
The competition’s preliminary panel consists of poetry experts from the Helsinki City Library. The final winners will be selected by actress Alma Pöysti and poet Kasper Salonen. The authors of the best poems will be rewarded with gift vouchers to the Rosebud bookstore.
The winners of the love poetry competition will be announced on Saturday 5 December at 18.00 at the Oodi Book Fest.
Instructions on how to enter the love poetry competition
The autumn programme invites you to examine love
The events at the library examine love from many perspectives: as a human relationship, friendship, relationship to nature, and as a sense of community – not forgetting the painful side of love.
Joel Haahtela and Markku Haussila talk about love in their novels at the literature discussions. Anna-Riikka Carlson explores poet Eeva Kilpi’s relationship with nature. Vehka Kurjenmiekka and S.K. Rostedt talk about the romance and romantasy they write for young readers.
Suvi Auvinen and Elisa Aaltola talk about love for other species. The topics of the lectures also include love among older people, romance scams and the different eras of love.
The library’s love poetry evening allows everyone to recite poems that are important to you, led by Artemis Kelosaari. At a writing workshop led by poet and author Aura Nurmi, participants will explore what love is and how to write about it. Tatskatytöt organises a speed dating event for singles who love reading.
The ‘About love’ event series culminates in the Oodi Book Fest on 5 December and a children’s Independence Day party on 6 December.
Programme for the 'About love' event series(Link leads to external service)