Lapland

Set in Rovaniemi during the vibrant autumn season of northern Finland, this is a 4-day group experience for eight (8) selected participants. 

The journey is fully curated and organised from start to finish. During your stay, you will take part in nature activities, local encounters, sightseeing, and traditional sauna moments in and around Rovaniemi. Each part of the programme is designed to connect you with the landscapes, people, and rhythm of the North. 

The experience culminates in Finland’s Official Tasting dinner, where acclaimed chef Joel Manninen creates a menu inspired by pure northern ingredients, seasonal harvests, and flavours rooted in Arctic life. The tasting is a multisensory journey that brings together food, nature, atmosphere, and storytelling around one shared table, where you dine alongside your fellow participants. This is a once-in-a-lifetime invitation from the world’s happiest nation to discover where Finnish happiness begins: in nature, at the edge of the world.

Known as the capital of Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi is where Finland's National Tasting in Lapland takes place. The city sits exactly on the Arctic Circle and it's also the official hometown of Santa Claus. Come in autumn and you'll find yourself in the middle of ruska: the weeks when the forests turn amber and rust, the air smells of earth and pine, and the trails are scattered with cloudberries, lingonberries, and wild mushrooms – the same ones likely to appear on your plate that evening. If you're out after dark, keep an eye on the sky. On a clear autumn night, seeing the Northern Lights is a real possibility.

Chef Joel Manninen represents a new generation of leading Finnish culinary talent. He gained national recognition after winning the Finnish Young Chefs Championship in 2025, and further established his international standing with a silver medal at the Young Chefs World Championship in 2026, organised by the prestigious gastronomic association Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. His cuisine focuses on northern ingredients and a modern Arctic approach, where refined technical skill meets creativity and a distinct personal vision. Known for his contemporary interpretation of the North, he works at the intersection of flavour, technique, and the Arctic environment that shapes his cooking.

Joel is Head Chef at Sky Kitchen & View, a scenic restaurant set atop Ounasvaara fell in Rovaniemi, within Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara. The restaurant is widely regarded as one of the top dining establishments in Finland. 

The application journey to Finland's Official Tasting in Lapland is simple. First complete the social media video challenge on Instagram or TikTok. After you've completed the social media challenge, fill in the Lapland application form so we know how to contact you if you're chosen! 

The best applications are authentic, personal, and memorable. Be creative, show us the real you, and answer the question: Why do you want to Have some Finnish? Applications will be assessed based on your personal expression, so originality and authenticity matter most.

Would you like to apply to our other Official Tasting instead? Go to the Coast and Archipelago page.

Need some inspiration for your social media challenge video? Watch the video below to get an idea of what we're looking for. You can also find more inspiration directly on Visit Finland's own social media channels on Instagram @ourfinland and on TikTok @visitfinland.com. #HaveSomeFinnish

May 18, 2026
The application period starts.

May–June 2026 
Follow Visit Finland’s Instagram @ourfinland and TikTok @visitfinland.com accounts for more inspiration and additional information about the social media challenge. Complete the challenge and fill in the Lapland application form before June 9th. 

To apply to the Coast instead, go to the Coast and Archipelago page.

June 9, 2026
The application period ends on June 9, 2026 at 11:59 AM Finnish time (EEST). Applications after this deadline will not be considered.

June 29, 2026
The selected participants are publicly announced on Visit Finland's Instagram and TikTok channels.

September 2026
The participants will travel to Finland. Their trip to Lapland will take place between September 7th and 11th (additional travel dates in the beginning and/or end are possible due to transportation schedules).