Events – Helsinki Poetry Connection

Konepaja Spoken Word #10: SYMBOLS

Kino Konepaja, October 24, 2026

Konepaja Spoken Word is Helsinki’s English-language open stage for spoken word, poetry, and performance. It is organized by Helsinki Poetry Connection in collaboration with Kino Konepaja and Catalysti Association of Transcultural Artists, and produced by Vinski Valos.

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.

Save the dates and sign up through the below!
October 24: “SYMBOLS” (Hosted by Kasper Salonen)
November 21: THEME TBA
December 12: THEME TBA

The evenings are open to both first-time performers and experienced artists. Come perform or just listen, and be part of the community. The focus is on sharing, experimentation, risk-taking, and live encounters. We would love to hear your words, whether carefully crafted or spontaneous. To reserve a performance slot, please sign up below.

5 minutes per performance.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/7rvnmVL8d9GzVB4U8

The events are held in English. All languages are welcome on stage, but if your piece is in a different language, it can be a good idea to give the audience some context in English before starting your performance.

Sign-up 7 PM
Start 7:30 PM
Afterparty 10 PM to midnight

Free admission

LOCATION: Kino Konepaja, Konepajanpasaasi, Vallila, Helsinki

Our events follow HPC’s safer space guidelines as found on our website. We want this event to be safe and welcoming for everyone. By attending, you agree to respect people’s boundaries. If you feel unsafe or witness something concerning, please speak to the organizers.

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KONEPAJA MIC ABIERTO + VIDEOPOESÍA

HELSINKI POETRY CONNECTION x CINEMAISSí

FREE ADMISSION
Kino Konepaja
Saturday 10. October at 19:00 – 00:00

(Konepajanpasaasi, 00510 Helsinki)

An open stage at Kino Konepaja for Latin American languages, accompanied by free poetry film screenings. The event is a collaboration between Helsinki Poetry Connection, the 21st Cinemaissí Film Festival and Catalysti association.

The open stage welcomes poets, performers, songwriters, storytellers, and experimental voices – especially first time performers! This is a space to try out new material, share works in progress, and meet others working with Latin American culture, language and performance in Helsinki. The event will be held primarily in Spanish and English, but all Latin American languages are welcome on stage.

Open mic slots are limited to 5 minutes, but if the schedule allows, we may open up a second round later in the evening. Sign up to perform though this link: https://forms.gle/gJJ1kcrftXWWsz8R7 (or just come and listen)!

Later in the evening, a selection of poetry films curated by The Poetic Phonotheque will be screened as part of a collaborative programme with the Nature + Culture: Int. Poetry Film Fest.

The evening will be hosted by Daniel Malpikka & Vinski Valos.

19:00 — Doors open

19:30–22:00 — Spoken Word (Open Microphone)

22:00–23:00 — Film Screenings in the theatre

22:00–00:00 — After Party Set by DJ Jean-Philippe Payette

The after party film screenings are free, but registration through https://www.cinemaissi.com/event/konepaja-open-mic-video-poetry-helsinki-poetry-connection-x-cinemaissi/?source=programme is highly encouraged.

This event follows HPC’s safer space guidelines as found on HPC’s website. We want this event to be safe and welcoming for everyone. By attending, you agree to respect people’s boundaries. If you feel unsafe or witness something concerning, please speak to the organizers.

Ruusu Open Mic #73

We warmly welcome you to come enjoy poetry, storytelling, performance and other types of word art at Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on Sunday, October 25 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.

Next warm up act is: Anette Åkerlund!

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.

At the end of the evening, 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!

The evening will be hosted by Aika Huusko.

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

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.

Graphic design by Matias Ahtinen.

Konepaja Spoken Word #8: SETTINGS/ENVIRONMENTS

Konepaja Spoken Word is Helsinki’s English-language open stage for spoken word, poetry, and performance. It is organized by Helsinki Poetry Connection in collaboration with Tähtisalit, Kino Konepaja and Catalysti Association of Transcultural Artists, and produced by Vinski Valos.

Save the dates and sign up below!
September 12 Theme: SETTINGS / ENVIRONMENTS

(We also have a new setting for September’s event. See details below)

5 minutes per performance.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/7rvnmVL8d9GzVB4U8

The events are held in English, but all languages are welcome on stage.

Sign-up 7 PM
Start 7:30 PM
Afterparty 10 PM to midnight

Free admission

NEW LOCATION: Event Space TÄHTI, Train Factory, Aleksis Kiven Katu 17, Konepaja. Tähtisalit

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Ruusu Open Mic #72

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 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.

Warm up acts TBA!

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 at helsinkipoetryconnection.fi

Free entry!

Graphic design by Matias Ahtinen.

Sointi Jazz Orchestra x HPC: Animals

Sun 23.8. klo 15-16.30

During this afternoon dedicated to spoken word, audiences will hear animal-themed texts performed by local residents, accompanied by Sointi Jazz Orchestra musician Oskari Siirtola.

The event features a curated program, with performers selected through an open call. There will also be an opportunity to inquire about performing on-site during the event.

Unleash your creativity and come perform your own text—or a favorite piece—accompanied by live music!

You may present your text, song, or other performance in any language. Performances are limited to 6 minutes to ensure that as many participants as possible have the chance to take the stage.

The event will be hosted by experienced spoken word artist Jussi Kiova from Helsinki Poetry Connection.

The event is produced by Sointi Jazz Orchestra in collaboration with Helsinki Poetry Connection.

Sun 23.8. klo 15-16.30
SJO x HPC: Animals
Vapaakaupungin Olohuone, Kauppakeskus Redi
Hermannin rantatie 5, Helsinki

Konepaja Spoken Word #7: ANTAGONISTS

Save the dates and sign up below!
August 15 Theme: “ANTAGONISTS”
September 12 Theme: TBA

ANTAGONISTS

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

5 minutes per performance.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/7rvnmVL8d9GzVB4U8

The events are held in English, but all languages are welcome on stage.

Sign-up 7 PM
Start 7:30 PM
Afterparty 10 PM to midnight

Free admission

Location: Kino Konepaja; Konepajanpasaasi; Vallila, 00510 Helsinki

Everyone is welcome.

Info also from:
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Original Image: (1678) “The Mowing-Devil: Or, Strange NEWS out of Hartford-shire” (The Earliest Known Depiction of a Crop Circle.)

“Being a True Relation of a Farmer,
who bargaining with a poor Mower, about the cutting down three half acres of oats; upon the Mower’s asking too much, the farmer swore, that the Devil should mow it, rather than he: And so it fell out, that that very night, the crop of oats, shew’d as if it had been all of a flame; but next morning appear’d so neatly mow’d by the devil, or some infernal spirit, that no mortal man was able to do the like. Also, how the said oats ly now in the field, and the owner has not power to fetch them away.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mowing-Devil

HPC Goes Puisto: Käpylän Kiska

25.7. 17-20 Käpylän kiska

Otto-Iivari Meurmanin puisto

The Helsinki Poetry Connection’s summer park tour is sailing happily along. This time, we are heading to Käpylän Kiska, that little gem known for its incomparable park events. So, pack a blanket, a picnic, some toiletries, and your friends.

An evening full of the most potent word art your soul could possibly need is in store. Anyone can take the stage and enchant us all. So, write a poem, show up, sign up, wait for your turn, and when it arrives, let yourself sparkle into the summer evening! You can bring a guitar or similar instrument for accompaniment, keeping the technical limitations in mind.

The evening will be kicked off by Rae Aiemaa with their ambient live-accompanied poetry piece, EMBRACE ANGELMODE.

Sign-ups for the open mic will be taken after the opening act.

For everyone to have a good time, it is essential that everyone feels safe. So, let’s keep the space safe! More specific instructions on modern etiquette can be found in our safer space principles from https://www.helsinkipoetryconnection.fi/en/about-us/safer-space-guidelines-of-hpc/

The event is weather-dependent.

The event is supported by the City of Helsinki.

Graphics: Maija Kivi.

POETRY JAM: NIGHT

What kind of texts emerge in the night?

Helsinki Poetry Connection’s interdisciplinary Poetry Jam invites you to celebrate the Night of the Arts and Runokuu Poetry Moon Festival on Thu August 20, 2026, 7:30 PM-11:00 PM!

Join us for a moonlit feast of nocturnal spoken word on the 6th floor of the House of Text (Tekstin talo) in Helsinki.

Our featured performers are Veera & Senni and Susinukke Kosola. Between the guest performances, you’ll hear artists selected through an open call.

Do you have a poem, song, speech, or performance that fits the theme NIGHT? The open mic call is now open!

Send your application by 3 August to hpc.openmic@gmail.com. In your message, briefly introduce yourself and describe your performance, including its length. Five performers will be selected with performance slots of 5-10 minutes each.

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

Poetry Jam events follow safer space principles, which can be found here

Accessibility information is available on Tekstin talo’s website.

Free admission! 🌙

RUNOKUU: https://runokuu.fi/en/

HPC Goes Puisto: Lapinlahden Puisto

Helsinki Poetry Connection Goes Puisto is back on June 26th at 5 PM! This summer’s first park club kicks off in the beautiful Lapinlahden puisto. We warmly welcome you to perform your own poems in a lush, green, and welcoming open mic atmosphere.

To get things warmed up, the charming Saila Hakaniemi will take the stage.

Once the stage is set, it’s time for the main performers of the evening, which means you, dear poetry lovers! Anyone is welcome to step up and perform in front of our supportive and appreciative spoken word community.

Grab your picnic blanket, some snacks, your poems, and your friends, and come enjoy a lovely evening of poetry with us!

Important Notes:

The event follows safer space principles, which you can read more about here: HPC Safer Space Principles

The event is subject to weather conditions (rain insurance).