Celebration Week for Sustainable Living, 14-20 September

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.

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 free of charge.

Programme

Monday 14 September

• Opening of Ekotori's new premises9.00-19.00, Kalevantie 39
• Mending Workshop by the Evangelical Lutheran Parish, Time and location to be confirmed.
• MLL Family Living Rooms, Pansio Community Space (Pansis), Evening, exact time to be confirmed.
• 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.

Wednesday 16 September

• Climate Coffee for Students (online via Teams) 14.15-15.30
• Guided Tour of the Skanssi Biodiversity Park for VASO Residents

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.
• 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, Time to be confirmed, Kaarlentie 2, Ispoinen
  • Activities include rug weaving, sewing, knitting and crochet. Organised by the Turku and Kaarina Parish Union.

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 Family Living Rooms, Paattinen Community Space Evening (Paattisten Yhteisötila), exact time to be confirmed.

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 Taiteen talo (House of Arts)

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
• 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

• Brinkkala Yard Sale 2026
• Turku Antiquarian Book Fair 2026

Sunday 20 September

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.

• 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.

Companies can take part in the celebration week by:

• opening their doors to visitors or hosting events on Turku Day
• organising sustainability-themed activities
• participating in communications and visibility during the celebration week
• showcasing their own sustainability actions and innovative solutions

Associations, organisations, projects and residents can take part by:

Organising activities and events, such as:

• workshops
• discussion events
• coffee gatherings
• nature walks
• and other sustainability-related activities

The City of Turku will highlight sustainability-themed events as part of its Turku Day communications.

Let's create a celebration together that demonstrates how a good and sustainable life is already possible in Turku today!