Finnish festival organisers face rising costs and ticket price limits

Festival and event organisers in Finland are struggling with soaring artist fees and production costs this summer, but cannot raise ticket prices indefinitely to cover expenses, Yle reports.

Artist fees, technical costs, and marketing expenses have all risen sharply in recent years, according to Tomi Viren, promoter for Eura Events in Satakunta. “It’s a balancing act—we have to calculate very carefully,” he said.

The uncertainty is compounded by last-minute ticket purchases, making it riskier to launch new festivals. Harri Vilkuna, who has organised the Porispere festival for 15 years, noted that even established events face significant financial risks each year. “It’s especially tough for new festivals to build an audience now,” he said.

Despite economic pressures, Jenna Lahtinen, executive director of LiveFin (the advocacy group for Finland’s live music sector), believes audiences are still willing to invest in festival experiences—splurging on accommodation, food, and extras. “People are going all-in, treating it like a trip abroad,” she said.

The industry has adapted to years of crises, from the pandemic to geopolitical instability, but organisers warn that cost increases may force some events to cancel, as seen with Raumanmeren Juhannus, which was scrapped this year due to unsustainable expenses.