A true paradise for chamber music lovers. Don't miss it!
The 56th edition of Kuhmo Chamber Music is a veritable celebration of celebration, a feast of festivities, and will take place from 12th to 25th July 2026. Artistic directors Minna Pensola and Antti Tikkanen have put together a programme around the idea of “Celebrations and Ceremonies”. The two-week festival programme comprises 60 ticketed concerts celebrating everything from Easter to Christmas, from Mother’s Day to graduation ceremonies. The festival celebrates equality, the Pride movement, biodiversity, not forgetting many composers’ anniversaries, Finnish flag days, and rituals from different cultures.
Oulu, Kuhmo and 38 other municipalities from northern Finland are the European Capital of Culture 2026. Among the highlights of this year’s festival will be the many works newly commissioned around the various themes of the Oulu2026 Project. The Finland Festivals network has named Kuhmo Chamber Music the Festival of the Year 2026.
In addition to our ticketed concerts, we will host around 25 events that are completely free of charge. These include the Heart of the Day events, the concerts of the music course students, art exhibitions, film screenings, and outdoor concerts in the market square.
The festival brings together 110 international artists. Among those already well known to Kuhmo audiences are pianists Olli Mustonen and Heini Kärkkäinen; violinists Sergey Malov, Elina Vähälä and Daniel Rowland; viola player Yuval Gotlibovich; cellists David Cohen, Trey Lee, Tuomas Lehto and Maja Bogdanović; flautist Niamh McKenna; oboist Nicholas Daniel; clarinettist Matthew Hunt; and baritone Arttu Kataja. The programme also features festival favourites Meta4, the Storioni Trio and the Danel Quartet.
Artists appearing at Kuhmo Chamber Music for the first time this year include cellist Johannes Rostamo, violinist Maia Cabeza, viola player Jason Fisher, singer Arja Koriseva, the wind ensemble Orsino Ensemble, the Brontë Piano Trio, and Musicus Soloists Hong Kong.
Kuhmo Chamber Music is in in the small town of Kuhmo in Eastern Finland, 600 kilometres north from the Finnish capital Helsinki. The city is surrounded by blue lakes and fresh forests.
The nearest railway station and airport are 100 km away in Kajaani. There is a bus connection from the railway station to Kuhmo. If you choose a flight, please take a taxi from the airport to the centre of Kajaani and from the centre the next bus to Kuhmo. The other possibility is to rent a car from the airport. Other airports near Kuhmo are in Kuopio, Joensuu and Oulu.
Kuhmo offers a variety of accommodation possibilities, ranging from hotels and hostels to private housing. It is advisable to book well in advance. The Vuokatti holiday region near Kuhmo has further accommodation for concert lovers.
Kuhmo is a city of culture and nature. The most interesting places to visit in the city are the Kalevala Centre Juminkeko, and the Winter War Museum. The city also offers different kinds of art exhibitions during the festival. The city is surrounded by beautiful nature and there are many outdoor activities available: taking a trip with a canoe and paddle in the sunset, spending a night deep in the forest, observing the bears, wolves and wolverines.
Delicacies from Lapland in Salakamari restaurant, fresh salads and pastries from the local bakers in Amati Café, home cooked meals in Bistro Neljä Kaesaa Restaurant, special menus in Hotel Kalevala… There are plenty of choices in the small city centre and you can easily find a place. Booking a group menu in advance is advisable.
The dress code in Kuhmo is informal. Artists get festival’s t-shirts when they arrive at Kuhmo and many of them also have their t-shirts when on stage. Everybody is free to choose their attire, baring in mind that even though July is the best summer month in Finland, the weather can vary. It may be hot, but it may also rain. Visitors are advised to bring a variety of clothes.
Most of the concerts are held in three wonderful wooden venues –Kuhmo’s beautiful old church (built in 1816), Kuhmo Arts Centre (built in 1993) and the Tuupala School (2018). The concert venues are all within walking distance of one another. Music is everywhere.
