Come and celebrate Sustainable Living Week with us!

The city of Turku, the oldest city in Finland, will celebrate its 800th anniversary in 2029. By then, the city aims to be carbon neutral and, the following year, nature positive. We are making good progress towards these ambitious goals, and now is the time to highlight the work we have achieved together.
 
Read more about city's sustainability work:

Welcome to the Celebration Week for Sustainable Living, 14-20 September 2026

The City of Turku invites residents to celebrate sustainable everyday living. The Celebration Week encourages us to reflect on what a good life in Turku looks like amid the sustainability transition, both today and for the next 800 years.

Take part in the diverse programme of events throughout the week. Activities and events will be held across the city, and all programme events are open to everyone and mostly free of charge.

Programme

Throughout the entire week and around it:

  • Celebration Week for Sustainable Living at Forum Marinum, Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00 & Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00, Linnankatu 72.
    • Blue Mussel Treasure Hunt in the green area of the museum grounds. Pick up a crossword puzzle from the museum desk to make your treasure hunt even more fun.
  • Welcome to a Food Waste Lunch at Aurelia (Aurakatu 18) on Sunday, 13 September at 1:15 PM. The lunch will be prepared from rescued food and served after the church service, which begins at 12:00 PM. Voluntary donations will be directed to support disaster relief efforts in Nepal. The event is organized by the Environmental Group of the Swedish Congregation in Turku.
  • Boosting Bicycle Tourism for Villages and Community Houses! Join us for a discussion event and on-site bicycle maintenance on 23 September, 5:00-8:00 PM, at Maaria Village House. The event is organized by Valonia and Turku University of Applied Sciences. 

Monday 14 September

  • Opening of Ekotori's new premises9.00-19.00, Kalevantie 39
  • Learn how to repair your knitwear - Workshop at Mikael Church, 1:00-2:30 PM. Please bring your own needles and thread. Location: Club Wing of Mikael Parish Centre, Puistokatu 13, inner courtyard. Organized by the Parishes of Turku and Kaarina.
  • MLL Family Living Room in Pansio, 5:00-7:00 PM. Crafts made from magazines and, at the beginning of the event, a discussion on children's nutrition. Location: Panskis, Höveli Service Centre, Hyrköistentie 26, Pansio.
  • Open Nature Walk in the Skanssi Biodiversity Park, 9.00-10.30
    • Join a guided walk organised by the residents' nature group. The walk introduces the biodiversity park and nature experiences through the eyes of local residents. Please wear suitable walking shoes and bring a water bottle if you wish.
    • Meeting point: At the end of Skanssinkatu, next to the new daycare centre, where the asphalt road ends and the park pathway begins (Skanssinkatu 66).

Tuesday 15 September

  • What Does a Good and Sustainable Life Mean Today and in the Future?
    • Join this open public discussion where representatives from research, the city and community organisations come together to explore sustainable futures.
    • International Day of Democracy Discussion Event, 18.00-19.30, Information Department, Turku Main Library
  • Materials Matchmaking Event: How Can Materials from Theatres and Creative Industries Be Better Circulated?
    • Inspiration, discussion and practical ideas. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
    • 17.00-19.00, Campus Turku, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Piispankatu 8
    • Register via the event link.
  • Sustainability Activities: “From Old to New” for the whole family, 4:00-6:00 PM. Maaria Church, Maunu Tavastin katu 2. Organized by the Parishes of Turku and Kaarina.

Wednesday 16 September

  • Sustainable Career Paths in Turku -Climate Coffee for Students (online via Teams) 14.15-15.30
  • Guided Tour of the Skanssi Biodiversity Park for VASO Residents
  • Come and meet members of the Turku Forest Group at the Market Square from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Join the conversation about Finnish forests and share your own forest memories. You can also get tips on nearby forests and nature destinations in the Turku area.
  • Autumn Evening for the Whole Family, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Enjoy nature-themed activity stations, crafts made from recycled materials, sausage grilling, and a moment of quiet reflection. In case of rain, the event will be held indoors; otherwise, activities will take place outdoors in the church grounds. Piikkiö Parish Centre, Hepojoentie 4. Organized by the Parishes of Turku and Kaarina.

Thursday 17 September

  • Sustainable Living Celebration Week Pilgrimage, 17.00, Distance: 6 km, Departure from St Catherine's Church (Katariinan kirkko), Organised by the Turku and Kaarina Parish Union.
    • Please bring your own snacks, which will be enjoyed along the way. Be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
  • Youth Climate Project Planning Session, 17.00-18.00, Skanssi Youth Centre
    • Come and explore what kind of sustainability project you could carry out.
  • Digital Decluttering Support, 14.00-17.00, Turku Main Library, Information Desk Area
    • A pilot event of the Sustainable Digital Everyday Life project.
  • Vaateapu Kaarderoopi Open House and Workshops, 11.00-15.00, Kaarlentie 2, Ispoinen
    • There will be an opportunity to try rug weaving on shared warps and receive guidance from volunteers on mending, knitting, crocheting, and clothing repairs. Karderoopi also has sewing machines available for use.Organised by the Turku and Kaarina Parish Union.
  • Sustainability Activities: “From Old to New” for the whole family, 4:00-6:00 PM. Maaria Church, Maunu Tavastin katu 2. Organized by the Parishes of Turku and Kaarina.

Friday 18 September

  • Student Flea Market Challenge Event 10.00-15.00
  • Open House at Kahmari Visitor Centre 10.00-15.00
    • Visitors can explore the exhibition and ask questions about waste management. Organised by LSJH.
  • MLL Open Family Living Room in Paattinen, 10:00-12:30.Craft activities using old magazines, followed by a nature-themed quiz at the beginning of the event. Paattinen Community Space, Seuravuorenkatu 2, Paattinen.

  • Burlesque Flea Market and Open House at Studio Winkheart, 10:00-18:00. Come and discover Southwest Finland’s only burlesque studio, explore Lady Winkheart’s performance costumes, which are mostly made from recycled materials, and shop at the sparkling burlesque flea market. Studio Winkheart, Kastuntie 51 B, Turku.

Saturday 19 September

  • Repair Café, 13.00-16.00, Workshop Space, Music Department, Turku Main Library
    • The Repair Café is a community space where you can repair broken items together with others, from clothing to household goods.

Celebration Day at the Courtyard of Art House Turku (Taiteen talo)

12.00-17.00

  • Community Living Room by Aurala Settlement Association
  • Coffee and cake for the first 100 visitors
    • Celebrating Turku's achievement of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75%
  • Campfires and discussions on our relationship with nature.Please bring your own plant-based food to grill.  
  • Exhibition on the City's sustainability work and opportunity to meet the City of Turku's climate team
  • Martat Repair Workshop in Cooperation with Novia University of Applied Sciences
    • 13.00. On-site workshop. Come and learn the Japanese sashiko mending technique.
    • 15.00. A hole in your sock? Oh no! Bring your socks and learn how to darn them with guidance from the Marttas
  • "From Waste to Building" miniature model workshop for children by Kideko
  • Presentation of sustainability-themed courses by Aurala Adult Education Centre

The Celebration Continues at Brinkkala Courtyard

  • 17.00-20.00 Electronic music by TYEMYY
  • 20.00 Open-air screening of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Presented by Kinokilta Film Society

At the Same Time in the Old Town Area

Sunday 20 September

  • Mosspaw’s and the Church Mice Hilda and Hulda’s Celebration. 16.00-18.00. A family-friendly event featuring nature-themed activities and outdoor activity stations, a play performed by the church mice, and environmentally friendly refreshments. Littoinen Parish Centre, Kampakuja. Organized by the Turku and Kaarina Parish Union.

Turku Day: Environment and Sustainable Development

Old Great Square (Vanha Suurtori) 11.00-16.00

  • Exhibition of the City of Turku's Sustainability Work
    • Turku's Climate Partners will present their sustainability initiatives, including Bayer, Varha, LSJH, Turku Water Utilities and Kaarea.
  • Learn More About the Turku Tramway Project, Yliopistonkatu 27
  • Ekotori Activities Presentation
    • Free book giveaway, Pop-up collection point for small household items, textiles and electrical equipment, Prize wheel
    • Organised by Turun Ekotori / Association for Sustainable Development.
  • Guided Tours of the Theatre Building and Ticket Offers, Åbo Svenska Teater
  • Open Houses at City Museums
  • Mobile Recycling Station Siira, Cathedral Square and Old Great Square, Advice and guidance provided by LSJH's information team.
  • Underwater Clean-up of the Aura River, 12.00-14.00
    • Divers will remove litter from the river, and the collected waste will be transformed into art.
    • Organised by the Aura River Foundation and Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association.
  • Burlesque Flea Market and Open House at Studio Winkheart, 12:00-16:00. Come and discover Southwest Finland’s only burlesque studio, explore Lady Winkheart’s performance costumes, which are mostly made from recycled materials, and shop at the sparkling burlesque flea market. Studio Winkheart, Kastuntie 51 B, Turku.

  • Activities for all ages at Forum Marinum 

    • Museum ships will be open to visitors (excluding Suomen Joutsen), and the other programme includes Treasures of the Baltic Sea in the museum's green outdoor area, a Maritime Quarter guided tour, and the Knots and Rope Festival.

     

Events During the Week

More events during the Celebration Week can be found here.