As Turku approaches its 800th anniversary in 2029, the city invites citizens to take the lead in creating new ideas, experiences, and innovations that strengthen urban life just as Turku has done for centuries.
This Thursday, Mayor Piia Elo and Suvi Innilä, Director of the Turku 800 Project, unveiled some of the guidelines for the coming years leading up to 2029, the year of the 800th anniversary of the city of Turku.
The chosen location was the Brinkkala building in Vanha Suurtori, as a way to connect the city's history with Turku's present and future.
During the presentation, it was reported the concept will be presented for approval to the City Board on October 20 and to the City Council on October 27, 2025. It is proposed that the Turku 2029 Foundation coordinate the implementation of the anniversary year with a budget of €5.3 million.
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More than 1,500 residents and friends of Turku from various sectors of society have contributed to defining the key themes and goals of the anniversary year. Their ideas have been distilled into the finalized concept, which will serve as a foundation for open project calls starting early next year.
A central question in developing the concept was how the anniversary year can help strengthen the city’s sustainability and resilience, fulfilling Turku’s slogan: Now, Forever, Turku. At the same time, the concept reflects the city’s unique character — and one of Turku’s strongest traits: being first. As Finland’s first city, Turku has been the gateway for countless cultural, social, and technological phenomena.
"The main and subthemes of the anniversary year are tied together by the idea of the active citizen. Every resident plays a role in shaping what kind of city we live in and how we thrive together," explains Suvi Innilä, Director of the Turku 800 Project. "That’s why the guiding question of the anniversary year is: What can I do first?"
Inspiring New Firsts
The main theme, New Firsts, turns the idea of being first into a call to action — inspiring innovation, experimentation, creativity, and bold thinking across fields like urban culture, arts, science, education, and business.
A second major theme is Strengthening Urban Identity, which aims to deepen civic participation and togetherness, reinforcing the social sustainability of the city.
Five subthemes will guide specific initiatives:
- The City for All
- The Nature City
- The City of Knowledge
- The City of Joy
- The City of Oases
Each theme aims to enhance residents’ sense of belonging, foster community, and promote positive actions toward others.
Investing in citizens and the future
Turku 800 is designed as a celebration for everyone — but also as an investment in lasting impact.
"Every person living in Turku will be a birthday celebrant in 2029. The anniversary year offers an opportunity to strengthen our shared sense of belonging," says Mayor Piia Elo.
"It will also support the goals of the mayor’s program and create space for collaboration across multiple levels. We invite not only our neighboring municipalities but also cities across Finland to join the discussion about the future of urban life," she adds.
The celebration will unfold through a year-long program of projects, campaigns, events, and citizen-led initiatives.
"The anniversary will consist of both large, one-of-a-kind moments and smaller acts of participation throughout the city. Every resident will have the chance to contribute — to give Turku a gift through their own action," says Suvi Innilä.
A collaborative celebration
The Turku 2029 Foundation will coordinate the anniversary year on behalf of the City of Turku, supported by a network of local and national partners.
The total budget is projected at €6.9 million, of which €5.3 million would be provided through the Turku 2029 Foundation. Additional funding will come from partnerships and project-specific financing.
The overall economic impact of Turku 800 is expected to be several times greater than the foundation’s investment. A monitoring and evaluation program will be created to assess the results and long-term effects.
The festivities will begin a year early with a "Pre-Anniversary Year of Cultural Firsts" in 2028, highlighting milestones that first arrived in Finland through Turku — including the 285th anniversary of Finnish café culture and the 300th anniversary of lilacs in Finland.