The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival and OP Jokilaaksot have signed a three-year cooperation agreement, under which the festival’s free opening day will also take place in 2026–2028. The collaboration supports the festival’s accessibility and enables participation with the lowest possible barrier.
OP Jokilaaksot has made the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival’s free opening day available for free for the past two years. The agreement signed now continues the collaboration until 2028.
The free opening day has become an important part of the festival week. Its goal is to lower the entry barrier and invite local residents, visitors, and new festival visitors to experience the atmosphere of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival.
– Community spirit is at the heart of folk music festivals, and the free opening day is one of our most important ways of inviting everyone to the festival atmosphere. It is great that OP Jokilaaksot is committed to supporting this opportunity for several years to come, notes the festival’s operations manager Valtteri Valo.
The new OP Jokilaaksot, which will start operations in April 2026, will be created when OP Alavieska, OP Jokilaaksot and OP Suomenselkä merge. The new, larger bank will strengthen the vitality of its business area and enable even more extensive services for its customers.
– Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is a celebration for the entire region, bringing people together across generations. We want to be involved in supporting an event that makes culture easily accessible and brings vitality to our region, says the current OP Jokilaakso Director Juha Pajumaa.
Chairman of the board of Pro Kaustinen ry Teemu Seikkula emphasizes the importance of the partnership in developing the festival.
– The free opening day is a concrete act in favor of cultural accessibility. By allowing anyone to attend the event without financial barriers, it also opens the festival up to those who would otherwise not be able to participate. We warmly welcome everyone to enjoy the happiest day of the summer.
The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival will be held for the 59th time from July 13 to 19, 2026.