Helsinki Biennial 2025 attracted over half a million visitors

Helsinki Biennial 2025, which explored the delicate relationship between humanity and the natural world, showcased 37 artists and artist collectives from around the world. The biennial brought together 57 artworks and installations, about half of which premiered in Helsinki. The theme of this major visual arts event was Shelter: Below and Beyond, Becoming and Belonging. 

Helsinki Biennial reached approximately 568,000 visitors this summer. Around 113,000 visitors experienced the biennial on Vallisaari Island and nearly 46,000 at HAM Helsinki Art Museum. Approximately 409,000 people enjoyed the artworks in Esplanade Park during the summer months. The visitor estimate for Esplanade Park is based on Telia Crowd Insights data, tourism data from Helsinki’s Economic Development department, and data from the Port of Helsinki and Statistics Finland.

Helsinki Biennial also gained international recognition among visual arts professionals and the media. The event was attended by over 90 representatives from international media, and so far, around 150 international media mentions have been recorded. About 850 professionals participated in the biennial’s professional days. A broader impact study of the Helsinki Biennial will be completed later in 2025.

Mayor of Helsinki, Daniel Sazonov: 
“Helsinki Biennial 2025 has enriched the summer in Helsinki by bringing art and its audiences together. Held for the third time, the biennial has secured its place in the hearts of Helsinki residents, and it is a joy to see how the event continues to leave lasting marks on the cityscape. Over its three venues, Helsinki Biennial has succeeded in delighting and surprising audiences and bringing culture within everyone’s reach – while also being an event of international appeal.”

Director of HAM Helsinki Art Museum and Helsinki Biennial, Arja Miller: 
“We designed this year’s Helsinki Biennial for a wide audience, and we succeeded in our goal of reaching both local and international audiences. The Esplanade Park enabled an engaging and accessible contemporary art experience for everyone. Additionally, we invested in a professional programme and collaboration with other art operators. Helsinki Biennial 2025 successfully fulfilled the core mission of our museum – to maximise the presence of art in the city – and advanced our vision of making Helsinki the most attractive art city in Northern Europe.”

Head Curators of Helsinki Biennial 2025, Blanca de la Torre and Kati Kivinen:
“The unique history and diverse nature of Vallisaari Island inspired us to reflect on shelter as a caring space where all lifeforms can thrive. We wanted to spark a discussion about living alongside other species and encourage the creation of new approaches to coexisting in a world that needs more understanding and empathy. The dialogue between the artists and audiences has been rewarding, and Helsinki has undoubtedly left a lasting mark on the hearts of all our artists.”

Helsinki Deputy Mayor for Culture and Leisure, Paavo Arhinmäki: 
“We are delighted that so many comprehensive school pupils were able to visit Vallisaari. Thanks to the free ferry journeys offered by the City of Helsinki, as many as 8,000 pupils had the opportunity to explore the Helsinki Biennial. This year, ferry ticket prices were almost half of what they were during the previous biennial, and the City of Helsinki also offered three days of free ferry rides for everyone. These measures ensured that everyone interested had the chance to visit the biennial on Vallisaari Island.”

CEO of Frame Contemporary Art Finland, Juha Huuskonen: 
“Organised in collaboration with HAM Helsinki Art Museum and other art organisations in the Helsinki metropolitan area, the Helsinki Biennial Preview professional programme highlighted just how strong and well networked our visual arts community is. For a week, Helsinki was a major gathering place for the international art scene, and we received very positive feedback on the programme. The connections established during the Helsinki Biennial Preview have already led to new international collaborations.”

The artists and collectives of Helsinki Biennial 2025 were Maria Thereza Alves (BR/DE), Band of Weeds (FI), Ana Teresa Barboza (PE), Sissel M Bergh (Sápmi/NO), Sara Bjarland (FI/NL), Saskia Calderón (EC), Edgar Calel (GT), Tania Candiani (MX), Regina de Miguel (ES/DE), Olafur Eliasson (DK/IS), Carola Grahn (Saepmie/SE), Tue Greenfort (DK), Kalle Hamm (FI) & Dzamil Kamanger (IR/FI), Tamara Henderson (CA/AU), Gunzi Holmström (FI), Katie Holten (IE/US), Ingela Ihrman (SE), Geraldine Javier (PH), Aluaiy Kaumakan (TW), Kristiina Koskentola (FI/NL), Yayoi Kusama (JP), Jenni Laiti (FI/SE) & Carl-Johan Utsi (SE), LOCUS / Thale Blix Fastvold & Tanja Thorjussen (NO), nabbteeri (FI), Ernesto Neto (BR), Otobong Nkanga (NG/BE), Giuseppe Penone (IT), Laura Põld (EE/AT), Marjetica Potrč (SI), Kati Roover (EE/FI), Hans Rosenström (FI), Paul Rosero Contreras (EC), Raimo Saarinen (FI), Pia Sirén (FI), Theresa Traore Dahlberg (SE/BF), Nomeda & Gediminas Urbonas (LT/US), and Juan Zamora (ES).

From the 2025 Helsinki Biennial, two artworks will be permanently installed in Helsinki: Stranding by Sara Bjarland and From the Dark into the Great Blue Yonder by Gunzi Holmström. From the 2021 Helsinki Biennial, three artworks have remained permanently in Helsinki: No Heaven up in the Sky by Laura Könönen, now located in Jätkäsaari, and Big Be-Hide and Pars pro Toto by Alicja Kwade, placed in Kalasatama. Keiken collective’s Ángel Yōkai Atā, which was seen at the 2023 Helsinki Biennial, has received its permanent location in Kalasatama in September 2025.

The next Helsinki Biennial will be organised in the summer of 2027. Its Head Curators are the internationally acclaimed Curator Mami Kataoka and the Finnish museum professional and contemporary art expert Arja Miller.