Turning of the tide
at 16:00

TAMPERE BIENNALE 15.–19.4.2026

“We want to speak for Finnish music, to give new ideas a place to live. We are curious, we respect daring. This is the Tampere Biennale.” This was stated in the Tampere Biennale program book in 1986, founded by composer Usko Meriläinen, and the same ethos still holds true today. The performances are characterized by stylistic openness and interdisciplinary nature, which have been important values since the festival’s inception. The theme of the 40-year-old festival is roots.

Tampere Biennale 2026 is a celebration of composers living in Finland. The multicultural festival brings together composers, performers and audiences for enchanting, thought-provoking and inspiring artistic experiences. An increasing number of composers living in Finland come from diverse ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, which is a huge asset to the entire field. Music lives in a world where doors are not closed. In addition, the festival features an unbroken chain of generations of contemporary composers, from the youngest to the oldest, from composers born in the 1930s to those born in the 2000s. Contemporary music is music about the world we live in. In one moment, you can encounter different eras – roots, sprouts, shoots and seeds. They help you understand what has been, what is now, and what may be to come.

Additional information: www.tamperebiennale.fi

CONCERTS

Wednesday 15.4.

19.00 Tampere City Hall, 25/20 €
TampereRaw – Iris Candelaria, soprano – Roope Mäenpää, conductor

21.00 G Livelab, 20/15 €
Earth Ears Ensemble

Thursday 16.4.

Cultur House Laikku, Lecture Hall, free entry
10–11 Agata Zubel (PL): From Idea to Sound (lecture)
14–15.30 Agata Zubel: Master class for composition students
Language: English

12.00 Gallery Himmelblau, free entry
Meeri Pulakka, soprano – Sofia Keto-Tokoi, dance

16.00 Theatre Telakka, 20/15 €
Pia Freund, soprano – Hanna Kinnunen, flutes – Jyrki Myllärinen, guitar – Henrik Sandås, bandoneon – Ada Freund & Satu Rekola, dance

19.00 Tampere Hall, Small Auditorium, 25/20 €
Uusinta Ensemble – Ánnámáret, yoik

21.00 Tampere Hall, Maestro, 25 € (Tampere Hall ticket sales)
Ville Hautakangas, piano – Inka Hannula & Teemu Raudaskoski, live painting

Friday 17.4.

12.00 Culture House Laikku, Music Hall, free entry
Eeva Rysä, cello – Ilmo Ranta, piano

14.00–16.00 Culture House Laikku, Music Hall, free entry
Composing in Between Cultures (discussion)
Language: English

18.00 Tampere Hall, Maestro, free entry
Pre-concert talk

19.00 Tampere Hall, Main Auditorium, 34/26/16/10 € (Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra ticket sales)
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra – Maria Puusaari, violin – Malla Vivolin, flute – Ruut Kiiski, conductor

21.30 Telakka, 15 €
Hot Heros – Libero Mureddu

Saturday 18.4.

12.00 Sara Hildén Art Museum, 18 € (museum ticket sales)
Malla Vivolin, flutes – Ella Mettänen, recitation

16.00 Tampere Hall, Small Auditorium, 35/30/20 € (Tampere Hall ticket sales)
Ryoko Aoki, Noh singer – Petriikka Pohjanheimo, actress – Avanti! Chamber Orchestra

19.00 Raatihuone, 25/20 €
Avanti! Chamber Orchestra – Sirja Nironen, cello – Mateusz Gwizdałła, conductor

21.00 G Livelab, 20/15 €
Saxtronauts – Maija Kauhanen, kantele

Sunday 19.4.

Family Day, free entry

11–14 Children's Cultural Centre Rulla
Instrument workshop

12.00 Culture House Laikku, Music Hall
Ilmiö Ensemble: Musical Fairy Tale and instrument presentation

13.00 Nekalab, Event Hall, 25/18 €
Tea/Time & Love

15.00 Culture House Laikku, Music Hall, 20/15 €
Ilmiö Ensemble

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SOUND ART AND EXHIBITIONS

8.4.–10.5. Culture House Laikku, Gallery
Riikka Talvitie – Teemu Mastovaara – Leevi Räsänen

16.–19.4. Pyynikinharju ridge, 10 €
Pietari Kaasinen & Anni Kytömäki: Audio walk Magic Road

15.–19.4. Frenckell bells
Jonne Valtonen: Kutsuva

15.–19.4. Keskustori Central Square
Petri Kuljuntausta: Roots In The Sky

15.–19.4. Tampere Hall, Winter Garden
Maarit Kytöharju: Professional Composer

15.–19.4. Gallery Himmelblau, Kutomosali hall 3
Alice Armando: Roots

www.tamperebiennale.fi/

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Age limit: All ages
Time: at 16:00

Doors at 15.30

Accessibility:
The theatre is located on the third floor of the Culture House Telakka. There is no lift between the floors.
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