Pre-events for Kotka Maritime Festival and the opening of Kotka-Jukola at the Market Square.

Jukola Relay is the world’s largest recreational sports event and a prestigious orienteering relay competition, taking place in Kotka on June 13–14. Like Kotka Maritime Festival, the Jukola Relay is among Finland’s top events. The event is free of charge and open to all. Welcome to explore both major events at the Kotka Market Square.

The event day invites residents and visitors to enjoy a diverse program featuring alternating music and dance performances, as well as content for the whole family. The pre-event kicks off at 2 PM with the Children’s Maritime Festival program, when Kotkan Hyrrät will bring their lively performance to the square.

At 3 PM, a MetsäAreena Live broadcast will be shown on the screen, and at 4 PM the Children’s Maritime Days continue with entertainment by Musamasiina.

The official opening of Kotka-Jukola takes place at 5 PM, after which the evening continues with live music: Yrjänä performs at 6 PM, Kukkatalo at 7:30 PM, and the evening concludes at 9 PM with the energetic Willamomafia.

Over the weekend, residents can follow the Venla Relay and the Jukola competition on the screen at the Market Square. Market vendors will also be present offering their services. Kymenlaakso Taxi will set up a taxi stand at the edge of the square, providing transport to the Jukola competition venue and back to the city center at a fixed price.

Kotka-Jukola 2026 brings the strong theme “Life from the Forest” to the event. It highlights the importance of forests not only as a setting for orienteering, but also as a source of well-being, community, and economic activity.

Kotka-Jukola uniquely combines sport, nature, and community, and the opening event brings this experience to the heart of Kotka for everyone to enjoy.

Kotkan Kauppatie Association, one of the organizers, works to enhance the vitality and attractiveness of urban centers. The association develops the comfort and appeal of market squares and city centers and supports cooperation between local businesses and stakeholders, ensuring that Kotka’s city center remains lively and attractive for both residents and visitors.

Organized together by the City of Kotka, Kotka-Jukola, and Kotkan Kauppatie, the event strengthens the city’s sense of community and provides a spectacular start to the summer event season.

Programme

2 PM – Children’s Maritime Days: Kotkan Hyrrät

The dance club Kotkan Hyrrät has been bringing the joy of dance to people of all ages since 1968. For Kotkan Hyrrät, it is important that dance is for everyone—regardless of age, experience, or goals.

Learn more about Children’s Maritime Days (opens in a new window)

3 PM – MetsäAreena Live

Over the weekend, residents will be able to follow the Venla Relay and the Jukola competition on the screen at the Market Square.

4 PM – Children’s Maritime Days: Musamasiina

Children’s Maritime Days is a familiar and beloved summer tradition for Kotka families across generations. In 2025, the event attracted nearly 9,000 visitors—and for good reason, as at this festival children always take center stage as active participants!
Musamasiina is a group of professional musicians who tell stories to children through rhythm music. Musamasiina offers children something new that they don’t usually hear, and the lyrics always carry meaningful messages.

5 PM – Opening of Kotka-Jukola

6 PM – Yrjänä

In recent years, Yrjänä has worked behind the scenes with numerous artists—his production has been trusted by names such as Sexmane, Yeboyah, Hassan Maikal, and Isaac Sene. He has a talent for making his music catchy, which is not always a given in Finnish pop music.

7:30 PM – Kukkatalo

Blending indie rock, funk, and rap, Kukkatalo is a band formed by five friends from Helsinki. The group is known as an entertaining live band with a loyal fanbase that follows them to gigs around the country.

9 PM – Willamomafia

At Willamomafia’s gigs, you can hear Finnish hits from different decades as well as international classics, without forgetting more recent releases. Behind the Willamomafia DJ name are the Willamo siblings: DJ Skenikswee (Feniks Willamo) and his sister Mimosa Willamo, who is also known as an award-winning actress. A guaranteed party atmosphere awaits at Willamomafia shows!

Learn more about the performer (opens in a new window)

In cooperation with:
Kotka Maritime Festival
City of Kotka
Kotka–Jukola 2026
Kotkan Kauppatie

The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the programme.

Kotka-Jukola 2026: June 13–14, 2026
Kotka Maritime Days: July 22–25, 2026