Habitare 2026's Programme Is Full of Plot Twists – A Rich Lineup of International Speakers, Domestic Favourites, Workshops, Discussions, and Surprises, from a Cinema in the Exhibition Hall to an Auction and a Quiet Space

The discussion programme and interviews will be accompanied by popular workshops, including a traditional painting workshop and yin yoga. Eeva Kolu will host the Main Stage, and Eveliina Nieminen will host the Stage. Habitare Pro offers programming and workshops for industry professionals, as well as opportunities for networking and business meetings.

Plot twists in the programme include Hakola, which is bringing its relaxation area Pause Lounge to the fair; Kino Konepaja's Habitare Theater – a cinema showing Finnish short films right in the middle of the exhibition hall; and Suomibaari, where visitors can enjoy Finnish schlager music and karelian pies.

Programme highlights:

MAIN STAGE

Wed 2.9, 11:00 Keynote: All the Way to Paris
The multidisciplinary design studio ATWTP works across graphic design, textile and lighting design, illustration, book design, and the creation of visual worlds. In its work, ATWTP emphasizes the importance of analogue processes – the spark of creativity is found by combining the old and the new.

Wed 2.9, 14:00 Keynote: Kallesø Architects
Architecture firm Kallesø Architects specializes in residential work. Their approach is guided by a desire to create lasting cultural and historical durability along with a good everyday life.

Wed 2.9, 15:00: Architect Takkunen interviewed by Eeva Kolu
This year, Habitare Naapurit (Neighbours) gets a new interpretation from Oulu-based Arkkitehti Takkunen. This year's Naapurit theme exhibition centers on traditional techniques, natural materials, and a northern atmosphere.

Thu 3.9, 11:00 Keynote: Petrus Palmér – Building a Design House in a Time of Change
Petrus Palmér is a designer and the founder of Hem. Palmér speaks candidly about the future of the design industry, the role of culture in design, and pricing, distribution, and long-term brand value.

Fri 4.9, 11:00 Keynote: Lev Bratishenko
Lev Bratishenko describes himself as the "Twister of Meaning" at London's Cosmic House. His curatorial work includes the Come and Forget series, which proposes benevolent acts of mass forgetting, and the How To workshop, which brings together strangers to stage interventions in architectural culture.

Fri 4.9, 14:30 The Best Chairs Are Made Together
This talk sheds light on the often invisible expertise of the Finnish furniture industry. Timo Mikkonen, founder of the Chairs & Makers exhibition project, is joined in discussion by a master cabinetmaker and an upholstery professional. The focus is not on individual products or techniques, but on the makers' skill and the tacit knowledge accumulated over decades.

Sat 5.9, 13:30 A Jewel with Many Lives – Perspectives on the Circular Economy from Kalevala Koru
Kalevala Koru's nearly 90-year history shows that quality design and precious metals can be passed down from generation to generation. In this discussion, Kalevala Koru CEO Kirsi Paakkari and Creative Director Aino Ahlnäs join Habitare's creative advisor Päivi Helander to examine changing consumer behaviour, the significance of timeless design for sustainability, and why secondhand pieces may become the jewellery industry's most interesting option in the future.

Sat 5.9, 14:00 Objects that carry the logic of fashion – the world of Ana Kraš
Designer Ana Kraš's multidisciplinary body of work combines furniture design, lighting design, photography, and fashion. She is especially known for her Bonbon lamps, made from recycled fashion-industry yarns, which have become part of HAY's permanent collection. In Paris, Kraš runs her brand Teget, which merges fashion and home decor into a single world.

Sun 6.9, 11:30 Janita Autio – A talk on courage and living life on your own terms.

Sun 6.9, 12:00 From Dream to Reality: A Home Renovation in Tuscany
Renovation duo Ella Kanninen and Jasmiini Lappalainen bought a second home together in Tuscany, Italy, in early 2026 and renovated it themselves in just two weeks. In their talk, they share what the process of house-hunting in Italy was like, what needed to be considered, what came as a surprise, and how the renovation itself was carried out.

Sun 6.9, 13:30 Screenwriter Anna Brotkin interviewed by Eeva Kolu
Anna Brotkin, creator and screenwriter of the hit series Atlantis Pasila, talks about how the series came about and what inspired it. In this interview with Eeva Kolu, hear how Pasila became the show's setting and what role design and fashion play in its world.

STAGE

Wed–Sun, 12:30 Bringing Greenery Home with Houseplants
Flower inspirer and founder of Kukkaverstas, Minna Mercke Schmidt, shows how to build a lush, green atmosphere at home with houseplants and keep them thriving. Expect practical everyday tips and ideas for making greenery an easy and stylish part of home decor.

Thu 3.9, 13:00 Without a Home, Without Security
Erja Morottaja from Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry (an organization for people without permanent housing) and Jenni Eronen, an employee with lived experience of homelessness, discuss what the lack of a home concretely means for a person's everyday life. The talk includes perspectives from people with lived experience and a discussion of housing as a basic right.

Fri 4.9, 13:00 How to Make a Yard Functional, Beautiful, and Part of Everyday Life
Landscape designer Helga Andersson highlights the importance of the yard as part of living, and how even small actions can turn outdoor space into a comfortable part of everyday life across the seasons.

Sat 5.9, 13:00 Talonhalaajat Live Podcast: Beautifully Worn – We Fell in Love with Old Houses
Why do we love old houses? In the Talonhalaajat live podcast, Nina Sointu and Mia Tiitta discuss the appeal of old log houses, the beauty of original materials, and make the case for renovations where not everything needs to be replaced.

Wed & Sun, 13:00 When Colour Starts to Speak – An Artist's Way of Building Emotion
Artist Pia Rydman explores the emotional and physical effects of colour and how an artist uses colour to build atmosphere.

Sat 5.9, 12:00 A Lighter Home – A Lighter Mind
Professional organizer Kiira Keto discusses how the amount of stuff in a home and its level of order can either add to everyday stress or support recovery and stress management.

Sat 5.9, 13:30 How Home Organization Affects Everyday Flow and Mental Wellbeing
Professional organizer Satu Ojala's talk offers perspectives on why organizing sometimes feels difficult, why home has such a strong effect on our emotional state, and how even small changes can create a home that supports wellbeing and everyday flow.

HABITARE PRO AREA

At the Nordic Quarters Showcase exhibition in the Pro Lounge, visitors can sit in seven chairs by Finnish designers and listen to audio explaining the original design concept behind each one.

Sound designer Tunement is creating a dedicated soundscape for Habitare Pro that extends across the entire professional area. In the "Black Box" installation, sound is presented as a material of design. At the centre of the professional area is the Habitare Pro Bar, made of cork, designed by Gencork and manufactured by Sofalca, showcasing the material's acoustic and aesthetic properties.

In addition, a panel discussion will be held in the Pro area's workshop space on Thursday at 14:00 on design education and material innovation: Michael Martin (University of the Arts London) in conversation with Johanna Normiala (MO6) and Joona Kontinen (Sulapac).

HABITARE THEATRE
Finnish Short Film Gems

Habitare Theater will screen a collection of Finnish short films curated by Kino Konepaja. The programme includes works such as Teemu Nikki: Fantasia, Jukka Kärkkäinen: Puskee veemäiseen paikkaan, Anna Paavilainen: Kaksi ruumista rannalla ja Fabian Munsterhjelm: Sukkahousut.

HABITARE CHOICE

The workshop programme in the Habitare Choice area offers hands-on activities and moments to pause. The programme includes a bird-themed painting workshop, Paint Your Own Bird; Yin Yoga – Towards the Inner World, led by Wilma Hetemaji; and a Traditional Painting Workshop introducing traditional painting techniques. In addition, Inka Koutaniemi will lead two pop-up workshops: Between Past and Future, and Being With, which focuses on community and creative presence. The workshops will be repeated on several days during the fair.

Full programme: https://habitare.messukeskus.com/ohjelma/?mkdtt=20260902

Mediabank: Messukeskus Mediabank

Further information:
Christa Vuorinen, tel. +358 50 577 6522, ext-christa.vuorinen@messukeskus.com

Habitare, the leading furniture, design and interior event in the Nordics, will next be held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre from 2 to 6 September 2026. | habitare.fi | @habitarefair | #habitare2026