Events – Helsinki Poetry Connection

Ruusu Open Mic #68

04. 02. 2026

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry, storytelling, performance and other types of word art at Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on the last Sundays of February, March, April and May 2026 at 5-8 PM. As usual, the evening starts with a brilliant warm up performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

You can sign up for the open mic during the first break after the performance. You’re welcome to perform your text, song or other performance in any language you wish. Instruments and devices can be hooked up to the sound system, if that’s what your performance needs and you have your copyright sorted (/free). Each slot is limited to 4 minutes so everyone has a chance—please respect the time.

Warm up acts TBA!

At the end of the evening, glorious flowers from flower shop Lutukka as well as some drink vouchers from Sörkan Ruusu will be drawn at random among all the night’s open mic’ers. So, it’s worth staying till the end to see if you’re one of the lucky ones!

We thank our longtime partner Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu and the city of Helsinki!

Ruusu Open Mic is free from discrimination. We don’t accept any racist or hateful content or behavior. Please also note that we advise performers to state content warnings regarding their poems if needed.

Our event follows the Safer Space Guidelines found at https://www.helsinkipoetryconnection.fi/en/about-us/safer-space-guidelines-of-hpc/

The main entrance of Sörkan Ruusu has a ~20cm step and 81cm-wide door. A ramp can be set up on request. The venue also has an induction loop, as well as one accessible restroom and three gender-neutral restrooms.

Free entry!

Graphic design by Matias Ahtinen.

Konepaja Spoken Word #1: BEGINNINGS

08. 01. 202608. 01. 2026

A brand-new English-language open stage and international community for spoken word, poetry, and performance, organized by Helsinki Poetry Connection and Kino Konepaja.

This open stage welcomes poets, performers, storytellers, and experimental voices working with text, voice, movement, sound, and presence. Whether your work leans toward poetry, performance art, short fiction, monologue, or something in between and beyond, this is a space to try out material, share ongoing processes, and meet others working with language and performance in Helsinki.

Theme: BEGINNINGS
– the beginning of a plot line or an era
– the phenomenology and cultural history of New Year’s resolutions
– the first morning after deciding something important

You don’t strictly have to follow the theme, it’s to provide a prompt for those who choose.

The first edition of Konepaja Spoken Word is produced by Vinski Valos and will be hosted by bilingual poet, translator, and HPC veteran Kasper Salonen.

The evening is open to both first-time performers and experienced artists. Come to perform, listen, and be part of a new community.

We focus on sharing, experimentation, risk-taking, and live encounters. We would love to hear your words, no matter how brief or random, so please contact us to grab a spot and bring your creative piece to life.
Sign-ups in advance via this link, or on site. The event is held in English, but all languages are welcome on stage.

5 minutes per performance
Admission is free

Location: KINO KONEPAJA,
Konepajanpasaasi,
Vallila, 00510 Helsinki
Everyone is welcome.

Organized by Helsinki Poetry Connection ry in collaboration with Kino Konepaja.

Poetry Jam — Sointi Jazz x HPC l

05. 01. 2026

Poetry Jam: Sointi Jazz x HPC; Saturday 31 January 2026 at 7 pm; Tekstin talo, Parvisali

For Tekstin talo’s Text Festival, HPC and Sointi Jazz Orchestra put on an experience where words merge with the sounds and rhythms of jazz.

The evening’s guest performer is Sonja Huhtaniska, an artist and journalist from Rovaniemi.

After the featured performance, the event jazzes on with selected performances from an open call. Participants will have the opportunity to present their own texts accompanied by jazz musicians. If you would like to take the stage, you are warmly encouraged to apply!

Do you have a poem, song, speech, or performance you would like to present with Sointi Jazz? Applications are open for performances lasting 5 to 10 minutes. Please send your application by 16 January to hpc.openmic@gmail.com

In your message, briefly introduce yourself and describe the content and length of your performance. The atmosphere and unique sound world of each piece will be explored together with the musicians.

There will also be space during the evening for a spontaneous open mic. The maximum length of each performance is 4 minutes. Sign-up takes place on site with the hosts.

The event is produced by Helsinki Poetry Connection in collaboration with Sointi Jazz Orchestra and Nuoren Voiman Liitto, with the support of the City of Helsinki.

Poetry Jam events follow HPC’s safer space principles, which can be found in the bio and at helsinkipoetryconnection.fi

Accessibility information for Tekstin talo is available at tekstintalo.fi/esteettomyystiedot

Free entry.

Graphics: Hanna-Katri Eskelinen

Tekstin talo, Parvisali, 6th floor

31 January, 7 to 9 pm

Lintulahdenkatu 3

Pikkujoulu

11. 11. 202511. 11. 2025

A warm welcome to spend an evening in poetic company, as HPC organizes a relaxed and creative Christmas party on November 29, 2025 starting at 6 pm! The venue is the Permantosali of Tekstin talo.

The event is open to everyone interested in HPC’s activities, so you can come alone or together, in wool socks, high heels, your outfit is free. The most important thing is to feel relaxed together.

During the evening, we will have:

poetry predictions for the future

poetry card making

surprise performers and performances

drinks from the bar

relaxed hanging out and inspiring company

The program and schedule are still being finalized — but we are sure to have an atmospheric and creative Christmas party.

Location: Tekstin talo, 1st floor Ground Floor Hall, Lintulahdenkatu 3

Time: Sat. 29.11. at 6 pm →

Free admission!

Would you like to support HPC’s activities? You can become a member on the spot or https://www.helsinkipoetryconnection.fi/en/join-us/

In addition, HPC t-shirts and books will be sold at discounted prices!

Ruusu Open Mic #67

06. 11. 2025

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry, storytelling, performance and other types of word art at Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on Sunday, Nov 30 at 5-8 PM. As usual, the evening starts with a brilliant warm up performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

November’s warm up act is: Emma Leppo!

The event is produced and hosted by Vinski Valos from HPC ry!

We thank our long time venue Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu as well as the city of Helsinki!

Ruusu Open Mic is free from discrimination. We don’t accept racist or hateful content or behavior. Please also note that we advise performers to state content warnings regarding their poems if needed.
Our event follows the Safer Space Guidelines at here

Graphic design by Vinski Valos

Poetry Jam – TWILIGHT

06. 11. 2025

Things are about to get obscure when Poetry Jam arrives at Pacifico x Tenho on Saturday, November 22, starting at 6 p.m. The restaurant is located on Helsinginkatu in Kallio.

The guest performers of the event are Veera Ojola, Aura Nurmi and Sir Liselot. During the evening performers selected through an open call will also be heard.

Do you have a poem, song, speech or performance that fits the theme TWILIGHT – or sheds new light on it? The open mic call is now live! Apply by 18 November to hpc.openmic@gmail.com. In your message, briefly describe yourself and the content and length of your performance. Four performers will be selected for 5-10 minutes on stage.

The event will be hosted by Vinski Valos and Sonja Kaisanlahti from Helsinki Poetry Connection, produced in collaboration with Nuoren Voiman Liitto. The event is supported by the City of Helsinki.

Poetry Jam follows the principles of a safer space, which you can find here . Unfortunately, the venue is not accessible.

Free entry!

Graphics: Vinski Valos

Ruusu Open Mic #66

04. 10. 2025

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry, storytelling, performance and other types of word art at Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on sunday 26.10. at 5-8 PM. As usual, the evening starts with a brilliant warm up performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

The stage will be warmed up by our performer Carita Hagan!

The event is produced and hosted by Jamie Simone. We thank our longtime partner Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu and the city of Helsinki!

Graphic design by Vinski Valos.

Free entry!

Ruusu Open Mic

05. 09. 2025

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry, storytelling, performance and other types of word art at Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on the last Sundays of September, October and November 2025 at 5-8 PM. As usual, the evening starts with a brilliant warm up performance followed by the main act itself: you and your slot in the open mic.

Warm up acts TBA!

Graphic design by Vinski Valos.

We thank our longtime partner Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu and the city of Helsinki!

Our event follows the Safer Space Guidelines here

Free entry!

HPC GOES PUISTO

15. 07. 2025

20.7. at 5 p.m. Helsinki Poetry Connection Goes Puisto is here again with a whole new episode of spoken word and happy faces!

This time we will take over Käpylän Lippakiska and the Meurmanin puisto in it’s immediate vicinity. We welcome each and everyone of you to perform your own texts in the finest open mic spirit. Naturally everyone who appreciates modern urban folk poetry is most heartily welcome as well.

This time our warm-up act is something a bit more special, because a most quirky and unique act of shouted poetry by the vociferous, soon-to-be-world-famous EJH! His artistic voice is nothing short of powerful and far reaching because their chosen style is to shout each and every poem as hard as humanly possible.

Now it’s time to laugh, now it’s time to weep, and most import of all: now it’s time to shout! All emotions are warmly welcomed!

We follow safer space principles, which you can read here

Free entry!

Poetry Jam – The Party

30. 06. 202515. 07. 2025

“It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…” -Leslie Gore-
—but maybe also laugh until bubbles rise to the ceiling and the words find their way to the dance floor.

Helsinki Poetry Connection’s August Poetry Jam invites you to a party—one that’s already over or just about to begin, one that’s wild, longed-for, unforgettable, or bitter to the bone. This year, in the spirit of Runokuu, we celebrate the power of words in a way that could never fit on a napkin corner. It demands the whole stage—and those dusty stage curtains too.

“It’s crazy, it’s party” -Käärijä-

Our invited performers include Ester Nuori Leppä, Alba Ala-Pietilä and Mari-Liis Müürsepp. These are some original voices you don´t wanna miss.

The program kicks off at 19:30. Parvisali is located on the 6th floor of Tekstin Talo—not too high up, but just high enough for the party to spiral out of control – or stay confined.

✨ Do you have a poem, song, or spoken word performance that fits the theme The Party—or maybe turns it completely on its head? The open mic call is now live! ✨
Apply by 14 August at hpc.openmic@gmail.com. Tell us briefly about yourself and your performance idea. We’ll select 4–5 performers, each with 5–10 minutes on stage.

Poetry Jams follow safer space principles, which you can read here

Accessibility information for Tekstin Talo can be found on their website: https://tekstintalo.fi/accessibility

The event is produced and hosted by Aika Huusko and Sonja Kaisanlahti from Helsinki Poetry Connection, in collaboration with Nuoren Voiman Liitto. Supported by the City of Helsinki.

Free entry!