Finland’s newest rock attraction opens in Kitee with Nightwish and Finnish rock history exhibitions

A major new music destination has launched in eastern Finland, where two exhibitions—A Nightwish Story and Suomirokkia—now share the same space, showcasing key chapters of Finnish rock and metal history, reports public broadcaster Yle.

The Kitee Exhibition Centre has become a hub for music fans, housing both the internationally renowned symphonic metal band Nightwish’s dedicated display and collector Jarmo Tanskanen’s vast Suomirokkia (Finnish Rock) archive. The first visitor arrived even before the official opening—a fan from Colombia who traveled specifically for the Nightwish exhibit.

“We let him in early, even though everything was still under construction,” said Markus Pulkkinen, Kitee’s cultural director. “He was overjoyed just to be there.”

The Nightwish exhibition, originally opened in 2020, previously drew around 1,000 visitors annually. Pulkkinen now expects that number to multiply, aiming for 5,000 yearly guests. “The two exhibitions complement each other perfectly,” he noted. “Nightwish alone has already attracted fans from over 80 countries.”

The updated A Nightwish Story features new additions, including recent gold records and the grand piano used by composer Tuomas Holopainen to write the band’s first three albums. “Tuomas no longer uses it—it needs restoration,” Pulkkinen explained.

Meanwhile, Tanskanen’s Suomirokkia collection spans over 40 years of Finnish rock memorabilia, from rare Hanoi Rocks posters to early gig flyers for The Creatures, the 1964 band featuring future stars Kirka and Remu Aaltonen. “This has been my way of life,” Tanskanen said. “It’s important that the collection isn’t just gathering dust—people should enjoy it.”

After searching for a new home last winter, the Suomirokkia exhibit moved from Ilomantsi to Kitee, where its expanded space now includes sections on Finnish punk, Joensuu’s rock scene, and the Leningrad Cowboys. Tanskanen believes the remote location won’t deter fans: “Finnish rock is in our blood. If people love the artists, they’ll make the trip.”

Pulkkinen anticipates peak visitor numbers during the summer tourist season, with group bookings already linked to local events like the Kitee Pallo Superpesis games. Beyond music, the Exhibition Centre also features model railways, Arabia ceramics, and local wartime history—creating what both Pulkkinen and Tanskanen call a “unique” cultural mix for Finland.

“Not everything exciting has to be in big cities,” Tanskanen said. “Hopefully, these exhibitions bring tourists—and tax revenue—to Kitee.”