Finland's Language Fair

Together with Hanaholmen, the Language Awareness and Ideologies in Finland (LAIF) Research Project is hosting the Language Fair, on October 22-23, 2026, onsite at the beautiful Hanaholmen hotel and conference center in Espoo, Finland.

The Language Fair starts on Thursday, October 22 with an afternoon of events devoted to language practitioners and people who deal with language-related issues in their work. The program on Friday, October 23 centers around contemporary language issues in Finland, including discussions about the future of Finland's languages.

Day 1: Language Practitioners

Day 1 is devoted to language practitioners from different sectoral areas. Experts guide workshops relating to language-related professions and fields, including language learning and teaching, media, policy and planning, integration, translation, and public services. Through these discussions, participants can learn from one another about language-related challenges, opportunities, and current best practices.

Program for day 1: October 22, 2026

First afternoon session

13:15–13:30
Opening of the public event and welcoming words, including an introduction to the LAIF project.

13:30-14:45 Cross-sectoral panel discussion

Panel features expert representatives from:

Education and research
Media
Government and public administration
Civil society and inclusion

Topics include language awareness, multilingualism, participation, language policy, and societal inclusion.

14:45-15:15 Coffee break

Second afternoon session

15:15-16:15 Workshops

Parallel workshops:

Knowledge production and innovation
Public sector and government
Media and communication
Civil society, inclusion, and community engagement

16:15-16:45 Break and mingling

16:45-17:30 Workshop reflections and synthesis

Workshop facilitators present key insights, challenges, examples of best practices, and recommendations for future action.

Day 2: The General Public

Day 2 is aimed at the broader public and focuses on language, identity, multilingualism, and the future language landscape of Finland. Are you interested in what is happening right now with Finland's language, and how to sustain them for future generations? Then this program is for you.

Program for day 2: Friday, October 23, 2026

Morning sessions

09:00-09:30
Welcome and reflections on the LAIF project

09:30-10:30 Session 1: Who Are We Today?

Parallel thematic discussions:

The contemporary language situation in Finland
Language and political participation
Language and inclusion
Nordic cooperation and language profiles

Discussion questions include:

What role do languages play in shaping who we are?
What kinds of language futures do we hope to see?
How can we support the transmission of Finnish, Swedish, Sámi, heritage, and other languages across generations?

10:30-11:00 Coffee break

11-12 Session 2: Who Are We in 50 Years?

Parallel thematic discussions:

Future scenarios for language and society
Multilingualism, mobility, and heritage languages
The future of Finnish
The future of Swedish in Finland

Participants will explore questions such as:

What might Finland's linguistic landscape look like in 50 years?
How will migration, technology, and demographic change influence language use?
What actions today can help shape the language futures we want?

12:00–13:15 Lunch

Afternoon Session

13:15-14:15 Plenary Session

Keynote speakers and invited experts reflect on language, identity, participation, and the future of multilingual societies.

14:15-14:30
Closing remarks

The language fair is organized in collaboration with Hanaholmen