Finnish jazz export event Finnish Jazz Showcase, April 21–23 in Espoo
In honor of the Jazz in Finland 100 anniversary year, a major Finnish jazz showcase event aimed at an international professional audience will be held in Finland. Organized in April in connection with the April Jazz Festival, the event will present up to ten current bands and artists selected by a professional jury.
Finnish Jazz Showcase brings together promoters, record label representatives, concert organizers, media, and other industry professionals from around the world. The event is jointly organized by the Finnish Jazz Federation, Music Finland, Espoo Big Band Association, and the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. It is supported by the Music Promotion Foundation Finland and the City of Espoo.
The showcase will take place on April 21–23 at various venues across Espoo. Over the course of three days, a diverse lineup of artists will perform, ranging from emerging talents to ensembles with strong international careers.
Finnish Jazz Showcase performers
April 21 – Exhibition Centre WeeGee (3–6 PM)
Lassy–Eskola Nordic Stew | Pauli Lyytinen | Selma Savolainen in the Shade
April 22 – Hanaholmen (10 AM–5 PM)
Seppo Kantonen Trio | Iro Haarla Ouranos Ensemble | Aki Rissanen Solo | D.O.P.A.
April 23 – Kino Tapiola (11 AM–1 PM)
Superposition | Kadi Vija | Heli Hartikainen
All concerts have free admission, subject to venue capacity. The showcase schedule and artist presentations can be found on the April Jazz Festival website.
Discussion sessions also in the program
Music Finland will organize a panel discussion during the showcase concerts on Wednesday, April 22 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at Hanaholmen. The theme is “The Future of Jazz Export and International Collaboration.” Panelists include international professionals invited to the showcase, such as Frank van Berkel (BIMHUIS), Øyvind Larsen (Nasjonal jazzscene) and Sunna Gunnlaugsdottir (Sólfinna). The discussion will be moderated by Annamaija Saarela, CEO of G Livelab Tampere.
The Finnish Jazz Federation will host another discussion session on Thursday, April 23 from 10:00 to 10:45 AM at Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden’s “Galleria”, titled “Audience, Discovery and Engagement in Jazz Today: From Social Media to Live Connections.” Speakers include Jason Olaine (Jazz at Lincoln Center), Mitsutaka Nagira (journalist) and Aisling Doherty (Serious & Leeds Jazz Festival).
Free admission to the discussions, subject to venue capacity.
The Finnish Jazz Federation encourages Finnish music industry professionals to network with international guests both at the showcase concerts and the panel discussions. A list of the event’s international professional guests can be found on the Music Finland website.
The year 2026 marks 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland aboard the Andania ship. The centenary celebration, Jazz in Finland 100, will highlight Finnish jazz and its artists at home and abroad, recognising jazz as an integral part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.