Everyone can participate in the festival!

Pelimanni performers; musicians, singers and dancers are the heart of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. Warmly welcome to the 58th festival 7th to 13th of July 2025.

The festival is committed to the Safer Place policy. For more information, visit kaustinen.net/info.

The call for Pelimanni performers for the 2025 festival has closed.

Application timetable for Pelimanni performers

• The call for Pelimanni performers has closed 31st of January at 5 pm.
• The invoice of the processing fee will be sent via email to the group’s contact person in January, but no later than February 8th. (No invoice for international groups).
  • The application will be rejected if the invoice is not paid by the due date (14th of February).
  • If the group is not selected as an official festival performer, the fee will be refunded.
• Details of the group members must be provided at the beginning of the year. Instructions will be sent to the contact person.
• The contact person will know in  April if the group is being accepted to perform at the festival. It is the responsibility of the contact person to pass on the information to their group.
• The details of the dates and times of performances will be sent to the contact person of the accepted groups in  May - June.
• If your application is missing an audio sample or video link, please send it to us as soon as possible to email above, pelimannit@kaustinen.net.NOTE! Please, upload the video on YouTube and add the link to this form (will not be published).  Audio and /or video samples will speed up the approval process and help with the possible placement of the performances. speed up the application process and facilitate the possible scheduling of appearances.Booking for Pelimanni accommodation will open during the spring. We will share more information via the Pelimanni newsletter and on our website.

Group Registration Fee:

Group registration fee covers the costs of processing and reviewing applications. Our goal is to ensure sufficient, high-quality, and successful performance opportunities for all selected artists at the upcoming festival. If your group is not selected as an official festival performer, the fee will be refunded. Applications will be canceled if the invoice is not paid by the due date.

The registration fee is based on the group size:
1–4 people: €20 / group
5–12 people: €40 / group
13–25 people: €80 / group
Over 25 people: €120 / group

There is no registration fee for international (from outside Finland) groups or groups according to a regional theme.

he home base of the regional theme group is within the regional theme area, or at least half of the program comes from the regional theme area, and the group wants to represent the region.

Performers and groups approved as an official performer will receive:

• Performer wristband which entitles entrance to the festival area and all events on all festival days.
• Free music and dance workshops, seminars and a guaranteed relaxed atmosphere with thousands of friends.
• Shared / dormitory kind accommodation for a low price
• Performer meal for discount price at the Festival restaurant.
• Free instrument storage.

More details about the conditions and benefits will be announced during the spring in the Pelimanni performers letters (Pelimannikirje).

Guestions will be answered from the festival office!

pelimannit@kaustinen.net
tel. +358 40 3582 198

Pelimanni performers; players, dancers and singers are the heart of Kaustinen Folk Music Festival.

Warmly welcome to experience the magnificent game atmosphere on the happiest days of summer at Kaustinen’s 60th festival from July 12th to 18th, 2027!

The festival follows the principles of a safer space. More information is available at: kaustinen.net/info.

As we have done in previous years, we have designed our own jersey for the players approved as the official performers of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival 2026!

You can have these unique 2026 jerseys for yourself only by ordering them in advance. These shirts are not sold anywhere else, not even at festivals!

Orders through the group contact person, Therefore, please contact the contact person for your own group.

Adults' shirts - 25 €

Color: wine red

Available sizes: XS-XXXL

Children's T-shirts - 25 €

Color: wine red

Sizes: 3-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years, 11-12 years.

Attention! The Roly sizing is usually smaller. Please order one size larger than usual.  For example, the size usually is L, but now it's XL.

Size chart

Warmly welcome to pick up your game at Kaustinen's 60th festival!

Pelimanni performers; players, dancers and singers are the heart of Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. It is time to apply to be a performer on the happiest days of summer.

If you are performing folk music, folk dance or more modern production based on them and want to get involved in creating a unique atmosphere of a family-friendly festival and present your music to a dedicated festival audience, do not hesitate to apply!

You may apply as a performer, if you are

• a solo performer
• a band or a group (2-50 person, and if you have a bigger group, please contact the festival office)
• a choir / singing group
• a folkdance group (accompanied with live music, no recorded music)

Apply by filling out the form that can be found here, which will be published on December 14, 2026.

The application can be filled out until Monday, January 15, 2027 at 16:00.

Unfortunately, we are unable to answer questions related to applications in the final minutes.
So please apply well in advance.
Warm thanks for this!

NOTE! This application form is meant for performers (pelimanni), who want to perform and enjoy the festival atmosphere at Kaustinen without financial compensation. Approved Pelimanni performers pay a registration fee for their participation, which confirms their place at the festival.

Further information will be published on our website and on our social media accounts @kaustinenfmf. Stay tuned!

The Pelimanni performer application for the 2026 festival has now closed.

Warm thanks to everyone who submitted an application!

We are unable to accept any more applications for the upcoming summer.
The application for the 2027 festival will open in December this year – please keep an eye on this page and follow our social media channels for updates.

In the meantime, you are warmly welcome to come and enjoy an amazing programme of folk music and folk dance during the happiest days of the summer at the 59th Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, 13–19 July 2026!

The festival is committed to the Safer Place policy. For more information, visit kaustinen.net/info.

Pelimanni performer application schedule 2026

• The Pelimanni performer application closed on Sunday, 18 January 2026 at 6 pm.
• Mikäli hakemuksestanne puuttuu If your application is missing an audio or performance sample, please send the link as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday, 21 January,, niin toimitattehan linkin pikimmiten, kuitenkin viimeistään ke 21.1. to pelimannit@kaustinen.net.
  • Please note: Upload the sample to YouTube first and then send the link by email.
  • Audio samples help speed up the application process and support possible programme scheduling.
• The invoice for the registration fee will be sent separately by email to the group’s contact person during January, and no later than 10 February . Please contact valtteri.valo@kaustinen.net if you have not yet received the invoice. Thank you!
• The due date for the registration fee is 15 February 2026.
• The application will automatically lapse if the fee is not paid by the due date (15 February).
• Performer selections will be communicated to contact persons in April–May. The contact person is responsible for sharing the information with the rest of the group.
  • Names and other details of group members will be collected during the spring. Instructions will be sent to contact persons by email.
• Performance times and venues will be communicated to contact persons May-June.

Booking for Pelimanni accommodation will open during the spring. We will share more information via the Pelimanni newsletter and on our website.

Conditions and benefits for those accepted as official Pelimanni performers

• Performer wristband which entitles entrance to the festival area and all events on all festival days.
• Free music and dance workshops, seminars and a guaranteed relaxed atmosphere with thousands of friends.
• Shared / dormitory kind accommodation for a low price
• Performer meal for discount price at the Festival restaurant.
• Free instrument storage.

More details about the conditions and benefits will be announced during the spring in the Pelimanni performers letters (Pelimannikirje).

Guestions will be answered from the festival office!

pelimannit@kaustinen.net
tel. +358 40 3582 198

Performer Reception esiintyjavastaanotto@kaustinen.net, tel. +35840 130 4514

Accommodation Office pelimannimajoitus@kaustinen.net, tel. +35840 573 9275

Info (24h) info@kaustinen.net, tel. +35840 170 1966

First Aid tel. 040 707 9869

The Festival offers assistance with game cards and all those attending the festivities at the Performers Reception, the Accommodation Office, and two information points and Soitinnarikka.

Performer Reception At the Music College from 12th to 18th July 2026

• Sun 12.7. 12:00–18:00*
• Mon 13th July.9:00–10:00 and 12:00–21:00
• Tue 14th July – Fri7. 9–21

We kindly ask people from Kaustinen and those living in the surrounding area to pick up the performers' camping equipment as possible on Sunday the 12th of July 2026, before the festival.

Accommodation Office At the Music College from July 12th to 19th, 2026

• Sun 12.7.from 12:00 to 21:00
• Mon 13th – Fri 18th. 9–21
• Sun 19.7. 9 am to 3 pm

If you expect to arrive outside the opening hours, please inform the Performer Reception and the Accommodation Office in advance. Thank you!

Music High School info (24h)

• Mon 13th July. from 12 o'clock, 24 hours a day
• Sun 19.7. until 12 o'clock

Juhlapiha Information Desk (10–20)

• Tue 13th July. – on 18th July. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Instrument Storage (Soitinnarikka) serves the Music College:

• Mon 13th July. – on 18th July. 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
• Sun 19.7. 8:00–12:00

The tuning wrench is primarily intended for instruments and performance outfits. When the tuning wrench is closed, the music high school info desk serves for matters related to the tuning wrench.

When you arrive at the festival, please come via the Music High School (Musiikkilukio) to collect your performer wristband and sort out any accommodation matters.

Please take note of the following before your arrival:

Check-in:

• At the performer reception, you will receive your personal performer wristband and the festival programme.
• Note! Vastaanottoon saapuessa No names can be added to the group's participant list upon arrival. Any changes (such as substitute performers) must be reported to the Performers' Reception in advance by the group's contact person.
  If you are unsure whether your name is on your group's participant list, please contact your group's contact person as soon as possible.

Opening hours:

• If you expect to arrive outside the opening hours, (Sun 12–18, Mon–Thu 9–21) ulkopuolella, please inform the Performer Reception and the Accommodation Office in advance. for a performer reception by phone or email. In this case, you may be booked to request a performer pass for information, subject to presenting an identity document.
• If you arrive unexpectedly outside opening hours and no wristband has been reserved for you, the info staff can verify your access rights based on separate instructions and a valid ID.

Others than performers:

• Companions, family members, and helpers are warmly welcome to the festival – please note that unless a special agreement has been made in advance, they will need to cover their own entry.
• Separate guardian tickets have been arranged in advance through the bands' contact persons.

 Contact information for the performer reception: esiintyjavastaanotto@kaustinen.net, tel. +35840 130 4514

Below is a map of the Music High School to help you find your way.

At the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, there are 26 stages in the festival park, each of which is unique. The happiest days of the summer stretch from the festival park to the heart of the village, and the game enthusiasts can also delight the elderly at the service house with their music.

Explore the stages at kaustinen.net/lavat (opens in a new window)

A detailed map is available at: kaustinen.net/kartta (opens in a new window)

Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is above all a shared meeting place where music fills the village roads, courtyards, and stages from morning until night.

Most performance stages are located outdoors, and most of them are covered. and mostly the stages are covered. So please be prepared for the varying weather, both in terms of clothing and protecting your instruments.

• Each performance stage follows a carefully planned schedule, To ensure that the day's program runs smoothly and that each performer gets their own moment on stage. We hope that you will arrive at the performance venue well in advance of your own performance time slot.
• In rainy weather, performances unfortunately cannot be moved indoors or to alternative stages, as there are very few substitute venues available.esiintymisiä ei valitettavasti voida siirtää sisätiloihin tai korvaaville lavoille, sillä vaihtoehtoisia esiintymispaikkoja ei juurikaan ole tarjolla. Thank you for your understanding regarding the unpredictability of the weather — sunny weather has been ordered, and we are waiting for confirmation any moment now!
• If your performance is cancelled due to weather conditions, for example, you can inquire about possible additional performances. We strive to arrange them according to available resources, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee their availability.

Additional performance requests and contact information: pelimannit@kaustinen.net

On the Kaustinen festival grounds, there are radios used by authorities as well as frequency-coordinated wireless microphones and in-ear monitors reserved for official festival use.

For this reason the use of your own wireless microphones, instrument transmitters and earphones is strictly forbidden..

You are allowed to use your own sound system in In Kalliokruvissa, Cinema and Wiljami.

Please remember to set up and take down your equipment within your scheduled performance time. Let’s make sure every performer gets to start their set on time.

Thank you for your cooperation!

The festival week begins with a meeting over coffee at Mondo from 3:00–5:00 pm.

Come and see who has already arrived, meet old friends, get to know new musicians, and enjoy coffee and sweet pastries in good company!

After the coffee gathering, we continue with the traditional Kaustinen Massed Playing led by Mauno Järvelä on the hillside beside Pelimannitalo.

We would like to welcome you to play with us at 16:30–17 at Pelimanni House hill!

Below is a list of the songs to be played, and the sheet music can be found in the Kaustinen music sheets and in Konsta Jylhä's sheet music book.
If you don't already have these, you can order your own from the Folk Music Society.

Finnis Folk Music Accosiation online store - here!

Joining the Kaustinen Massed Play

• Come at 16:15 I played on the slopes of Pelimannitalo with a guitar tuned to the right pitch.
• Bring everything you need with you. Learn the songs by heart; the sheet music holders don't stay upright on the wall.
• The first four songs are played all together by a large group of people, after which the locals continue with a few more songs.
• Below is the song's arrangement, musical genre, and information about where the melody can be found.

Villen marches F
Better Waltz D by Konstan (Konstan sheet music book)
Old jenkka G (green notebook)
Tiltan polkka C (red notebook)

After the Rinnesoitto concert, the Kustavi players will continue to perform at the KPO arena for the opening celebration. You can move to the stands surrounding the KPO arena to watch the opening celebration.

Thank you for calling with us!

The festival shuttle bus takes you smoothly from your accommodation to the festival area and back – no parking stress.

Show your Pelimanni performer wristband and travel free of charge on the Kaustinen–Veteli and Nikula–Pelimannitori routes.

Travel to Kokkola costs €8 per one-way trip. kyyti maksaa 8 € / suunta.

An additional festival bus service from Kokkola to Kaustinen Pelimannitori will operate on Sunday 12 July at 16.15.

Buses from Kokkola depart from the bus station (near the railway station), and the festival bus as well as most long-distance express services also stop at the Kokkola railway station stop (about 50 metres to the right when exiting the station building onto the street side).

We recommend purchasing bus tickets in advanceso that the operator can prepare for possible extra capacity needs and ensure sufficient transport resources.

The Halsua bus route runs via Tastula and Köyhäjoki to Pelimannitori.

The trip from Halsua costs €8, matka maksaa 8 €,
but from Tastula, Vintturi and Köyhäjoki travel is free with a Pelimanni performer wristband..

Timetables and routes can be found on the website Kaustinen.net/festival-bus/

Even the most dedicated fiddler needs to stop for a good meal now and then. A little food and coffee help keep your energy up, your performances at their best, and the journey to the next gig a happy one.

During the festival (13–18 July), fiddlers receive discounts on food and coffee by showing their Fiddlers' wristband at the following locations:

Festival Restaurant at the Primary School

Breakfast Tue-Sun 8-10.00
Hot meals Mon-Sat 11.00-20

Breakfast on the game wristband 8.00 € (normal price 8.50 €) 
Lunch on the game day wristband 12,00 € (normal price 15,00 €)

You can find out more about this in the festival restaurant’s lunch menu.

From the festival arena's food street There is a wide variety of food available, from snacks to full meals. Come and check out the food street offerings!

Marjaananville's Cafe under the glass canopy at the Upper School

Mon 19-00
Tue - Sat 9-00

Game Man Accommodation - Performers approved as official game performers

• Unfortunately, just showing up at the festival does not automatically guarantee accommodation, so please remember to book your accommodation well in advance.

The booking form for the Game Man accommodation is open until 23:59 on 14 June.

From this link you can access the Game Manimajoitus 2026 booking form.

The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival offers camping accommodation during the event period, which is provided as group accommodation in halls, classrooms and other suitable locations. The accommodation is intended primarily for the musicians during the evenings between performances.

More information about other accommodation locations on our website.

More information on Pelimanni accommodation

• - kaustinen.net/pelimannimajoitus
• email: pelimannimajoitus@kaustinen.net  

Contact persons have received their group’s performance schedule by email, along with instructions on what to do if overlapping performances occur.

Performance times can also be found on the Performers 2026 page.

There were a hundred more applications for playing gigs than last year, so to make it possible to coordinate the schedules, we have added more venues and times, and at the same time we have made a change to the number of gigs: the number of gigs that qualifies for a slot is two this year.

Our goal is to make it possible for every group to perform while keeping major schedule overlaps to a minimum.

Therefore, scheduled presentations by groups are usually two or three in number.

The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is unique because Pelimanni musicians joyfully play in many different ensembles throughout the week — that is the very heart of the Pelimanni tradition. At the same time, this richness makes programme planning a particularly challenging puzzle, as the same talented musicians often perform in several groups on the same days.

We are doing everything we can to avoid overlaps whenever possible. If some overlaps still occur, we kindly hope that groups can discuss together whether one of the ensembles could perform once without you or another member of the group.

Thank you for helping us build a festival where music, community, and the Pelimanni spirit can flourish together.

The form is filled in with the performer's / group's details.

The performer / group of performers information on members (name, year of birth, instrument) collected separately in accordance with the instructions to be sent during the spring.

 You need this information to complete the form:

• a total number of performers
• A names of all groups (applying or having applied to the festival) in which members of this group perform. Unfortunately, groups of performers registered after the closing date for applications cannot be taken into account in order to avoid overlapping performance slots.
• the dates on which the performer/group can perform at the festival
• Link to sound sample, music video or performance recording. Please, upload the video on YouTube and add the link to this form.

Performers and groups approved as an official performer will receive:

• Performer wristband which entitles entrance to the festival area and all events on all festival days.
• Free music and dance workshops, seminars and a guaranteed relaxed atmosphere with thousands of friends.
• Shared / dormitory kind accommodation for a low price
• Performer meal for discount price at the Festival restaurant.
• Free instrument storage.

More details about the conditions and benefits will be announced during the spring in the Pelimanni performers letters (Pelimannikirje).

Guestions will be answered from the festival office!

pelimannit@kaustinen.net
tel. +358 40 3582 198

Approved Pelimanni performers pay a registration fee to confirm their participation, which secures their place at the festival.

The registration fee is a small, size-based contribution that supports the sustainable organisation of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival and helps ensure its vitality for years to come. This fee enables the festival to remain a meeting place, a learning environment, and a shared celebration where Pelimanni performers; musicians, dancers, singers and audiences can gather, learn, and pass on traditions together. If a group is not selected as an official performer, the fee will be refunded. Theme groups, international groups, and Master Folk Musicians are exempt from the fee.

After submitting the application, the group’s contact person will receive an invoice via email with a due date of February 15, 2026..
If the group is not selected as an official festival performer, the fee will be refunded.

NOTE: The application will be rejected if the invoice is not paid by the due date.

The registration fee is based on the group size:

1–4 people: €20 / group

5–12 people: €40 / group

13–25 people: €80 / group

Over 25 people: €120 / group

There is no registration fee for international (from outside Finland) groups or groups according to a regional theme.

Criteria for the Regional Theme Groups
A group applying as a regional theme group must either be based in the area of the regional theme, or at least half of its repertoire must originate from that region. The group should also be willing to represent the region as part of the festival programme.

A Kaustinen-based group must operate in the Kaustinen region, at least half of its repertoire must originate from the region’s traditional area, and the group must wish to represent the Kaustinen regional tradition.

For Finnish Folk Dance groups

Apply for the ”Better divided” section of the programme 31.1.2025 and make it possible for your group to perform in the pulse of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. Folk dance groups that do not have their own band and are ready to jump into a collaboration with musicians can apply.

The software used to apply must be an existing piece (6-10 min), with the possibility to change and adapt the songs to suit the composition of the "Better Together" band.

Application time has ended.

More information can be found on the page kaustinen.net/jaettuna-parempi

After the festival, we reminisce about wonderful concert memories, unforgettable moments, and the togetherness we have - what could be better than that!

Please remember to do the following while reminiscing Teosto's presentation announcement, it takes no time at all for the authors of the songs to receive the compensation they deserve. Thank you!
This link will take you to the application form.

We also want to hear how the festival went from the players' point of view. The festival is evolving year on year, so it's vital to get first-hand information from you, the performers. The feedback survey will be sent to the contact persons after the festival to pass on and will be published on this page. Thank you already at this stage for your feedback!

A warm thank you to all the performers; dancers, musicians and singers for the happiest days of summer 2024!

We greatly appreciate your feedback and would like to hear how you thought the festival went. Please send us your feedpack by email to info@kaustinen.net by 31 August 2024.

-

As we have done in previous years, we have designed our own jersey for the players approved as the official performers of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival 2026!

You can have these unique 2026 jerseys for yourself only by ordering them in advance. These shirts are not sold anywhere else, not even at festivals!

The ordered and paid shirts will be delivered to the address specified in the order according to the separately announced schedule. Thank you for ordering!

The Master Folk Musician, the Master Folk Singer and the Master Folk Dancer (Mestaripelimanni) is a title awarded by the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival to a person who, with his or her traditional skills, abundant repertoire or other significant merits, has promoted folk music or folk dance and promote their pursuit. The Masters have been named since 1970.

Applications for Master Folk Musicians, Dancers and Singers can be sent throughout the year. The applications can be sent to matti.hakamaki@kaustinen.fi or give a call to +358 40 574 1917.

Below you will find the registration form for Master Fiddlers appointed in previous years for this summer’s festival. We kindly ask you to complete the registration form by 31 January 2026.

The festival program is complemented by concerts completed by folk music and folk dance professionals. All festival guests and enthusiasts will be able to participate in a workshops of many professionals throughout the festival week.

Performers applying for an artist gets paid for their performance. The free-form application can be submitted either by e-mail directly to the Program Director firstname.lastname@kaustinen.net or to artists@kaustinen.net. Offers should be sent during August to December.

NOTE! We get so many artist offers that unfortunately not all posts can be answered. However, all applications will be reviewed, and each potential band or group will be contacted in person. Inriquiries can be made either by email or by phone directly from the Program Director.