The theme for the 2024 Runokuu / Poetry Moon Festival is “bond”
The multidisciplinary and international literature festival Runokuu / Poetry Moon delights poetry lovers in Helsinki and its outskirts from the Night of the Arts starting on August 15, 2024. The festival culminates in a four-day closing celebration held at Tekstin talo (House of text) from Thursday to Sunday, from August 22nd to 25th.
Since its inception in 2005, Runokuu has established its place among the world’s literature and poetry festivals. Runokuu presents both international and domestic fresh names as well as established veterans at its events. Runokuu is friendship festival with the Helsinki Festival, and its programme has always leaned strongly on the performative and multi-artistic side of poetry and literature.
This year’s theme for the festival is “bond”: how poetry binds us and others together, how a poem commits to other arts, to different ways of knowing, and society in general.
Runokuu is organized by Nuoren Voiman Liitto in collaboration with numerous partners. Ticket sales for the events start in August, more information about the programme at runokuu.fi/en/ohjelma See also our collab
All events follow these guidelines of safer space
Accessibility information for venues
- Tekstin talo / House of Text see Tekstin talo website
- Keskustakirjasto Oodi: see Oodi’s accessibility page
- Merihaka outdoors: not accessible (eg. stairs)
Runokuu /Poetry Moon is one of the largest poetry festivals in the Nordic countries. It has taken place in Helsinki annually since 2004, gathering both Finnish and international poets and poetry lovers to the Baltic sea in late August. The festival consists of late night poetry clubs, poetic and interdisclipinary performances, literature related art exhibitions as well as deep-diving discussions into the place of poetry in the world. Each festival has a unique theme, which serves as a conversation starter and inspiration for our varied programme.
We aim to push experimental, marginal and young poets and poetics into the forefront, without forgetting the importance of roots and traditions. Every year we also invite several international guests to perform at the festival. This international atmosphere broadens the perspectives of Finnish poetry and helps create lasting bonds between poetry scenes all around the world.