If you write a blog about life in Finland, not mentioning one of the country’s most popular events should almost be considered a crime. It’s like putting pineapple on pizza in Italy! Finns love reading, and the country’s library network and services are something many other countries can only dream of. That’s why the Helsinki Book Fair, also known as Kirjamessut, is such a big deal. If you missed it this year, mark your calendar for October 2027!
A Book Lover’s Paradise
The Helsinki Book Fair is a four-day event held at Messukeskus in Pasila, just a short walk from the train station. The programme is packed with author talks, book discussions, and presentations by publishers of all sizes, from small independent publishing houses to major publishers.
You’ll also find antiquarian booksellers, specialist bookshops selling comics, manga, and much more, as well as NGOs and other organisations. Throughout the day, authors hold book signings, giving you a chance to meet some of your favourite writers in person.
Last year, for example, I was thrilled to attend a discussion about Putin’s troll farms with Jessikka Aro and have her sign my book.
The Book Fair Starts Before the Weekend
This year, my Book Fair experience actually started on Wednesday. The Kallio Library hosted one of my favourite Czech writers, Alena Morštajnova, who was also one of the international guests at the Book Fair. Her Finnish publisher, Kairaamo, has published three of her books so far, including Hana, her best-selling and most widely translated novel.
I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet her. She talked about her books, her writing process, the archival research she does when working on a particular topic, and her future plans. And yes, new books are on the way! The continuation of her novel Listopad is expected to be published in the Czech Republic in the spring of 2027.
A Saturday Full of Books and Inspiration
As I’ve mentioned before, my daughter is an avid reader, so we usually visit the Book Fair during the weekend. This year, we went on Saturday.
About two or three weeks before the event, you can find printed copies of the programme in libraries and bookshops. Each of us goes through it and circles the talks and discussions we’re interested in. It’s a great way to plan our day and make sure we don’t miss our favourite authors.
We started our Saturday by attending a discussion with Maryam Abuzaid-Ryu about her book Kompastellen. The book is aimed at young adults and is set in a high school. Maryam explores familiar themes of young adult literature, such as love, relationships, and taking responsibility, while also bringing different cultural perspectives into the conversation.
Next, we went to see S. K. Rostedt, the author of Finland’s first romantasy book and one of my daughter’s favourite writers. We had the chance to meet her last year, too, and she certainly didn’t disappoint this time around! The final book in her trilogy is due to be published later this year.
Saara is such a fun and likeable person: outgoing, energetic, and full of positivity. Listening to her talk is almost like watching a stand-up comedy show. The audience had a great time, and people left feeling energised and cheerful.
We also attended a discussion about how writing affects readers and planned to visit a few more talks throughout the day. But then we started wandering around the booksellers’ stands, and that was it. We were lost!
You Can Never Have Too Many Books
We had promised ourselves that we wouldn’t go too crazy with our purchases. Yet, despite our best intentions, we came home with ten books. Because when you’re a bookworm, resistance is futile! Books are everywhere, and they’re calling your name 🙂
My daughter had been saving her pocket money for this event, and watching her browse the books with such love and enthusiasm is a joy in itself. For her, the Helsinki Book Fair is simply the event of the year.
And honestly, I can understand why. There is something special about being surrounded by books, discovering new authors, meeting writers you admire, and sharing your enthusiasm with thousands of other readers.
Is the Helsinki Book Fair Worth the Money?
This year, tickets cost €23 for adults and €16 for children and other eligible visitors, depending on the ticket category. I know that, given the current economic situation, spending that much on a book fair might not be an option for everyone. And that’s completely understandable.
But if you have some extra money to spare and love books, the Helsinki Book Fair is well worth considering.
It’s more than just an event where you can buy books. It’s an opportunity to meet authors, discover new stories, listen to interesting discussions, and experience something that is deeply connected to Finnish culture: the love of reading.
So, if you’re living in Finland or planning to visit Helsinki in October, why not add the Book Fair to your list? You might discover your next favourite author, find a book you didn’t even know you needed, or simply enjoy being surrounded by people who love reading as much as you do.
