Helsinki. A bright Saturday morning on Aug. 22, transformed Narinkkatori in Helsinki’s Kamppi district into a vibrant celebration of Indonesian culture.

Balinese Barong decorations, Jakarta’s iconic Ondel-Ondel figures, and colorful Indonesian ornaments adorned the venue for the Indonesia-Finland Festival (IFF) 2026, the largest Indonesian cultural festival in Finland. Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Helsinki, the festival attracted a record 6,856 visitors from at least 43 countries—the highest attendance since the event was first held in 2022.

Officially opened by Indonesian Ambassador to Finland Ibnu Wahyutomo, IFF 2026 served not only as a showcase of Indonesia’s rich culture, products, and cuisine, but also as part of celebrations marking the 81st Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Ibnu highlighted the values of togetherness, unity, and humanity, emphasizing that the celebration was also an expression of solidarity with fellow Indonesians affected by disasters.

Hosted by MCs Gandi Ginting and Sini Heiskanen, the festival featured a diverse lineup of Indonesian arts and cultural performances, including traditional dances, music, and singing. Performers came not only from Indonesia’s diaspora community in Finland but also from Estonia and Germany.

Highlights included Kalimantan Dance, Topeng Dance, Zapin Muara Dance, Galuik Dantiang Piriang Dance, Gebyar Jaipong Dance, and Simalakama Dance, performed by Dian and Eva Jarvenkyla, as well as Selendang. Popular songs performed by Maleo Band and DJ madeofchina further energized the crowd, while four diaspora winners of the “KBRI Helsinki’s Got Talent” program—Adinda Putri, Tito Adibaskoro, Sindy Komulainen, and DJ Senky—also took to the stage.

Adding another dimension to the celebration, several Finnish and Estonian musicians joined the performances, creating a vibrant atmosphere of cross-cultural collaboration and interaction.

A Taste of Indonesia in Helsinki
Food was another major attraction at IFF 2026, with 14 food stalls serving a wide range of Indonesian specialties. Visitors could sample dishes ranging from nasi and rendang to satay, konro, meatballs, gado-gado, gudeg, rawon, pempek, and somay, along with sweet treats and beverages such as martabak, cendol, coffee, and traditional Indonesian snacks.

The culinary exhibitors came from cities across Finland and even from the Netherlands, reflecting the growing reach of Indonesia’s culinary community abroad.

Meanwhile, six product exhibition stalls introduced visitors to a selection of Indonesian products, including food and beverages, kebaya, batik, paintings, handicrafts, and souvenirs.

For Konosuke, a visitor from Japan, the festival offered an impressive introduction to Indonesia’s cultural and culinary diversity.

“IFF is a great representation in introducing the diversity of Indonesian cuisine and culture,” Konosuke said.

From its opening at 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., Narinkkatori remained bustling with visitors eager to experience Indonesia’s culture, cuisine, music, and products.

IFF 2026 also continued its partnership with Turkish Airlines, which provided two economy-class round-trip tickets between Helsinki and Jakarta as prizes for lucky visitors.

Connecting Culture and Economic Opportunity
Beyond cultural promotion, IFF 2026 also generated meaningful economic value for the Indonesian community, diaspora, and local businesses. The festival generated an estimated economic impact of at least €100,000 through direct and indirect activities.

The Indonesia-Finland Festival is a flagship annual program organized by KBRI Helsinki to promote Indonesian products, cuisine, arts, and culture to Finland’s multicultural society. Since its launch in 2022, the festival has grown into a regular feature on Helsinki’s cultural calendar, attracting visitors from Finland and around the world.

With its record attendance in 2026, IFF continues to demonstrate how cultural diplomacy can bring communities together while opening new opportunities for Indonesian products, businesses, artists, and diaspora communities on the international stage.

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