Helsinki's cultural centres will host LGBTQAI+ events for adults and the whole family. Queer feminist choral music from folk songs to Eurovision hits will be performed in Caisa on Wed 25 June at 18:00, when the Helsingin Queer-feministinen kuoro choir and The Friends of Dorothy human rights vocal group sing from the margins with love and attitude (tickets: 15/6 euros). The age-restricted (over 18s) Club Kiihko: Mancamp art club at 19:00 on Fri 27 June dives into the heart of masculinity (tickets: 15/6 euros).
The free Pride event on the Espa Stage will feature dance artists Johanna Karlberg and Iiris Laakso with LESBOLESBOLESBO, a lounge-style DIY contemporary musical about a lesbian encounter and love story.
Free family activities are available at the Annantalo Arts Centre for Children and Young People and Vuotalo. Participants at Annantalo's non-stop workshops, open to all, can create colourful spinning tops in the spirit of Pride Week from Tue 24 to Wed 25 June, and Pride afternoon at Cultutal Centre Vuotalo on Fri 27 June from 15:00 to 18:00 will feature a rainbow wreath and jewellery workshop. You can also try out circus tricks at Vuotori Square with Sirkus Magenta.
Discussion event at City Hall
The ‘Harrasta ihan homona’ (Totally gay hobbies) discussion event will be held at Helsinki City Hall on Wed 25 June at 16:30–18:00. The event will focus on leisure time activities, where everyone can be themselves. You can come along to listen, share experiences and brainstorm ideas for inclusive leisure culture in Helsinki. There will also be a Rainbow Cities Network 2025 photo exhibition on the theme of ‘Queer sports’. The event is open and accessible to all. There will be sign language interpretation and light refreshments will be served to the first 50 people to arrive. The event subscribes to the principles for safer spaces. You can also watch the event on the Helsinki Channel(Link leads to external service) .
Libraries host workshops, story times and a discussion event
Several Pride events will also be hosted in libraries across the city. Kontula Library is organising a discussion event at 17:00 on Tuesday 17 June on the topics of LGBTQAI+ migration and LGBTQAI+ people and faith.
Drag Poet Maimu Brushwood hosts story time with tales of friendship and feelings. Story times for children of all ages will take place at 15:00 in Maunula Library and at 17:30 in Kalasatama Library on Tuesday 24 June. Join others in making rainbow-themed stickers at the sticker workshop at Central Library Oodi at 14:00 on Friday 27 June.
In addition to this, Rainbow Shelves in libraries highlight queer literature. There are already 34 libraries in Helsinki with a Rainbow Shelf, featuring literature and films related to sexual and gender minorities. The Rainbow Shelf’s materials provide important objects of identification and an opportunity to understand the diversity of gender and sexuality.
City Museum walking tour
The City Museum's Pride Week programme includes a walking tour on LGBTQAI+ history on Wed 25 June at 17:00. The guided tour starts in Old Church Park and ends in Observatory Hill Park. The tour will dive into early 20th century Helsinki from the perspective of a LGBTQAI+ people. What opportunities did Helsinki offer to those whose sexuality or gender did not fit into the narrow norms of their time? Why was Esplanade Park the busiest gay park in Helsinki?
Walking tours hosted by the City Museum are popular, and many fill up quickly. We recommend buying your ticket (12 euros) in advance on the museum website(Link leads to external service) . In honour of Pride Week, the museum shop will also be selling rainbow-themed bags, t-shirts, fabric badges and lanyards.
Youth Pride House at the Caisa Cultural Centre
Youth Pride Week is a dedicated event for 13–25-year-olds, held in the city at the same time as Helsinki Pride Week. A varied, free programme will be provided at Youth Pride House, which is a meeting place for young people at the Caisa Cultural Centre. It is open from Monday to Friday from 14:00 to 20:00.
The park festival closing Pride Week in Kaivopuisto Park on Sat 28 June will have a dedicated area for young people. After the park festival, Helsinki City Museum will host its own Youth Pride party for 13–17-year-olds, where young people can create a work of art together using rubbish, in keeping with the theme of the current exhibition – Trash! DJ Koolla, Saga Mast and Asla Jo will perform during the evening.
The aim of Youth Pride Week is to increase wellbeing, prevent loneliness and boost self-confidence among young people. The event week is organised by the Helsinki Pride Community and the City of Helsinki.
City of Helsinki cultural and leisure services also offer a year-round programme of events that take sexual and gender minorities into consideration in theme and performer selection, among other things.
To find out more about Pride Week events, visit tapahtumat.hel.fi./en(Link leads to external service) .
