May Day 2026 is celebrated in many ways on all three campuses.
May Day in Turku is full of fun events
The oncoming May Day has already been celebrated in many ways, but the main events are still ahead. The sTYYlish May Day Eve organised by the Student Union of the University of Turku begins with the traditional punch event, where the Student Union and student organisations offer free punch around the Turku campus. Punch is available from approximately 9.00 to 15.00.
The sTYYlish Ticket Hunt will also kick off during the punch event. You can win tickets to cultural events around the Turku area by spotting a board member of the Student Union wearing a May Day outfit. After the punch event, the traditional May Day Parade starts its journey towards the Turku Art Museum hill.
The highlight of May Day Eve, the capping ceremony (known as lakitus in Finnish) where thousands of people gather to put on their white student caps, begins at the Turku Art Museum hill at 17.30. Everyone will put on their student caps at 18.00, at the end of the speech given by the Chair of the Student Union Executive Board.
Once everyone has their caps on, the May Day Parade continues its journey towards Runeberginpuisto park. There the Lily of Turku statue will be washed and given a student cap. After this, the technology students of Turku (Teekkarikomissio) will give the statue of Paavo Nurmi on the other side of the road a cap as well.
On 1 May, it is time for the sTYYlish May Day Picnic at Vartionvuorenmäki hill. There will be live music provided by the University Choir, the band TYPERÄ TYPERÄ MIES, and the artist Nössö Nova. For the second time, summer peace will be declared at the picnic.
The sTYYlish May Day celebrations will once again feature the #Siistivappu (Clean May Day) campaign, encouraging people to keep the campus and the city free of litter.
Read more: sTYYlish May Day Eve and sTYYlish May Day Picnic
Synapsi ry, the association for geography and biology students, will once again organise the joyful Vappusumppu event for families with children at the Natura building on the University Hill on 1 May 2026 at 10–14. The theme of the event is farm life. Entrance fee is 5€/child, adults free.
At the event, there are many fun activities for little farmers, including face‑painting, pony riding, obstacle course, and a quiz. The event is also a great opportunity to visit the Zoological Museum of the University of Turku. Pony riding, as well as some of the other activities, cost extra. The ponies are present at the venue from 10.00 to 12.30.
Read more: Vappusumppu (page in Finnish)
The broadcast of Turun Wappuradio, the Turku May Day radio station, began on 24 April and will continue until 30 April. There is a wide range of topics and music from different genres to listen to on the programme. Wappuradio broadcasts around the clock on 93,8MHz.
Read more: Turun Wappuradio (page in Finnish)
Student organisations also organise all kinds of events around May Day. You can find more information about the events on student organisations’ Instagram pages.
Rambunctious races in Rauma
May Day has been kicked off in Rauma with many events, and there is still much to come. For example, there will be an open-air sitz event on 27 April at the Seminar Garden. The traditional Finnish baseball match ‘Rauma Derby’ will be played between the Department of Teacher Education and the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences on the Otanlahti baseball field on 28 April at 16.00.
May Day Eve gets a flying start from the hill car race organised by TK-Kilta on the Seminar hill at 15.00. The festivities continue in Kanalinranta, where the Kanali Helm statue is given a student cap at 18.00.
On 1 May at 12.00, there will be a traditional picnic held at Parpansali Park.
More information about May Day activities in Rauma can be found on student organisations’ Instagram pages.
The whole University Consortium celebrates in Pori
Academic May Day festivities in Pori are in full swing. Students have been able to participate in many events such as the Kaljamaili (Beer-mile) footrace and May Day baths at Ikaalinen spa. There are activities to partake in before May Day Eve, for example a dining and bingo event organised for the University Consortium students on 27 April at 16.00.
On 29 April at 14.00, the students and staff of the University Consortium of Pori will gather for a joint mead celebration (Wappusimahetki in Finnish), where the beginning of May Day events will be celebrated.
On 30 April, there will be a traditional Wappumatinea at the Old Town Hall at 16.30. The event celebrates the accomplishments of the past academic year.
The May Day Eve celebrations continue at Raatihuoneenpuisto park, where people will gather to hear speeches by the Chair of the Student Association of Pori (Pointer ry) and the Director of the University Consortium of Pori. After the speeches, the Bear statue will be washed. The festivities will culminate with capping the Bear statue.
Read more: Academic May Day in Pori (page in Finnish)