Jyväskylä Pride Week is here—check out the program!

Uncategorized / 8.9.2026

Jyväskylä Pride Week will be held September 7–13 and is organized by Jyväskylän SETA ry, an advocacy and recreational organization for people belonging to sexual and gender minorities in Jyväskylä and the surrounding area. This year’s Pride Week theme is “Sports Peace for All,” which aims to highlight opportunities for LGBTQ+ people to participate and be themselves at various sports venues.

As part of the Pride Week program, JYY and the University of Jyväskylä are organizing the following events:

Queer Speed Friending by JYY – Tue, Sept. 8, 5:00–9:00 p.m.
Ilokivi Venue (Keskussairaalantie 2)

Come meet new people at JYY’s Queer Speed Friending on Tuesday, September 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Ilokivi Venue! 

Speed Friending is organized like a game of bingo, so it’s okay if you can’t make it right at the start of the event. Speed friending is bilingual (Finnish and English), and you can decide for yourself which language you’d like to use to meet new people. JYY will provide coffee, tea, and juice for participants! 

The first round begins at 5:15 p.m. Each round lasts 15 minutes. After three rounds, there will be a 15-minute break. 

No admission fee and no pre-registration required. Self-service bar. Accessible venue.

The event adheres to JYY’s principles for a safer space. By participating in the event, you agree to follow these principles. An trusted person will also be present at the event; you can recognize them by their gray JYY hoodie or sweatshirt and their trusted person pin.

JYY x JYU: “For who is there room in the locker room?” Panel Discussion – Wed, Sept. 9, 4:00–6:00 p.m.Tietoniekka (B116), Lähde building, Seminaarinkatu 15 | Panel discussion is in Finnish.

The University of Jyväskylä and the Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä are organizing a panel discussion during Pride Week to discuss about the status and place of queer people in the sports sector and sporting activities.  

The discussion will take place in the Tietoniekka space at the Lähde University Library on Wednesday, September 9, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The venue is accessible via the entrance on the administration building side. The panel discussion will be held in Finnish.

The event will adhere to JYY’s Safer Space principles. By participating in the event, you agree to follow these principles. A trusted person will also be present at the event; you can recognize them by their gray JYY hoodie/sweatshirt and equality pin. You can easily reach out to the equality officer if you experience harassment or feel that the safer space principles have been violated. 

Queer Pop-Up – Thursday, September 10, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Ilokivi Venue (Keskussairaalantie 2)

Welcome to the queer artists’ pop-up shop on Thursday, September 10, at Ilokivi Venue! The venue will feature several artist booths where you can buy items such as cards, stickers, and artwork. You can also make Pride-themed pins at the University of Jyväskylä booth. Jyväskylän Sateenkaarevat Opiskelijat booth will also be there.

The pop-up vendors are Janette Leino, Sienimorso, Niazecko, Elias Oksanen, Aamu Elokannas, Ebirtsikkieh_art, Emma Hukkakallio, Maria Mariia Art, Nora Karku, Asta Koivuniva, Kumma Uni, HaNaMo, TerhoDesign, and Elo Mikael. See below for vendor profiles!

No admission fee and no pre-registration required. Self-service counter. Accessible space.

The event adheres to JYY’s principles for a safer space. By participating in the event, you agree to follow these principles. A trusted person will also be present at the event; you can recognize them by their gray JYY hoodie or sweatshirt and their trusted person pin. Feel free to contact the trusted person if you experience harassment or believe that the “safer space” principles have been violated.

We’ll also be participating in the Pride Parade and the Park Festival—come join us!

Once again, this year, the university community will have its own block in the Pride Parade, and we welcome all members of our community to join us in marching for equality, equity, and peace in sports. The Pride Parade will assemble on Saturday, September 12, at 11:00 a.m. in Kirkkopuisto and set off at 12:00 p.m. You’ll recognize the university community’s block by the University of Jyväskylä flag and the JYY banner.

As in previous years, you’ll find the joint JYY and University booth at Saturday’s Park Festival in Lounaispuisto, near Grilli21. At the booth, you can jump on the bouncy castle and make your own Pride pin. Don’t forget to grab this year’s JYU <3 JYY pin, too!

The JYU <3 JYY Pride pins have arrived!

Pick up your own JYU <3 JYY Pride pin in the lobby of the Ilokivi Student Union Building, at Lähde, Ruusupuisto, Agora, or Ylistö—near the custodions’ stations. There’s a limited supply, so first come, first served!

You can find the full program for Jyväskylä Pride Week here.

You can find the full program for JYY and the University of Jyväskylä’s Pride Week here.

JYY x KSEK: Jyväskylä Pride Week Movies – 50% Off Movie Tickets for JYY Members

During Pride Week, JYY is also collaborating with the Central Finland Film Center (KSEK)! Members of Jyväskylä SETA and JYY can watch queer films at a discounted price at Kino Aurora, located on the Seminaarinmäki campus. Show your student ID at the box office to get a movie ticket for half price!

The following films will be shown during the week:

Tue, Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m. Pohjoinen intohimo

A documentary directed by Markku Heikkinen about a man from northern Finland and the awakening of his desire, and its impact on his relationship. In Finnish, no subtitles.

Wed, Sept. 9, 8:00 p.m. Pillion

A unique, feel-good British black comedy about an unconventional love affair. In English, Finnish subtitles.

Thu, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. Kuopus

A tender coming-of-age story about a young woman—balancing her own feelings with the pressures of her environment, and finding the courage to speak her mind. In Finnish, no subtitles.

You can reserve tickets in advance on the Kino Aurora website here.

Introducing the Queer Pop Up Vendors

Janette Leino
Instagram

Janette Leino is a textile and visual artist from Jyväskylä who, through her art, explores emotions related to humanity, contradictions, and the sometimes fragmented interaction with nature.

Sienimorso
Linktr.ee

Hi, I’m Sienimorso, a fan artist studying in Jyväskylä! My table is mostly filled with fan art, including works inspired by Code Lyoko, Transformers, and Project Hail Mary, but you’ll also find seals in gacha form. 🙂

Niazecko
Instagram

Hello! I’m an art student at TAMK (Tampere), and I love keeping my table intriguing for visitors 🙂 I sell stickers, prints, jewelry, and handmade crafts, and I also take commissions on the spot :3

Elias Oksanen
Instagram

Elias Oksanen is an artist from Jyväskylä who works with a wide range of visual art techniques. He often draws inspiration from nature and the landscape of the mind.

Aamu Elokannas
Instagram

Aamu Elokannas (b. 1999) is a self-taught visual artist based in Jyväskylä. Her work is characterized by bright colors, expressive human figures, and fluid brushstrokes.

Ebirtsikkieh_art
Instagram

Art and mushroom jewelry. ♡

Emma Hukkakallio
Instagram

Maria Mariia Art
Instagram | Verkkosivut

Maria is a queer artist from Jyväskylä who combines the Finnish forest, folklore, and a queer perspective in her ink and watercolor works. Prints, magnets, and earrings for sale.

Nora Karku
Instagram

I make all kinds of things—I’m sure there’s something for everyone! I can’t fit everything on the table, but this year, for example, I’ll have studded chokers and mushroom keychains with a little surprise 😉

Asta Koivuniva
Instagram

I’m a queer artist from Central Finland who works in textile art. I’ll be selling mostly handmade textile items with an artistic twist.

Kumma Uni
Instagram

Jeeka Rauvala (artist name Kumma Uni) is a self-taught artist from Jyväskylä whose colorful and anarchic acrylic paintings and digital illustrations exude otherworldly queer joy.

HaNaMo
Instagram

Sisters from Oulu who primarily create art and products from air-drying clay, such as keychains, phone charms, hairpins, and wall decorations—for example, fruit-shaped faces.

TerhoDesign
Instagram

TerhoDesign brings quirky and colorful ceramics from Tampere to the market! Items for sale include cute magnets and unique storage containers🍓🍉🧃

Elo Mikael
Instagram

I create delightfully colorful and queer art! My work often reflects my love for nature. I’m selling stickers, prints, comics, and—for the first time ever—Metsähomo T-shirts and fabric patches!