The Finnish Glass Biennale will take place from 10 to 16 June 2027. First held in 2025, the international event celebrating glass, contemporary art and design will return with a more international focus and extend over a longer time in 2027.

The Biennale brings together glass artists and designers, creative professionals from various fields, and audiences interested in art, design and glass. The programme features exhibitions, discussions, live demonstrations and experiences exploring the traditions of glass, its contemporary applications and its future possibilities.

Italy is the theme for 2027, with internationally acclaimed designers curating the main exhibition

The theme of the 2027 Finnish Glass Biennale is Italy. The theme will be reflected in the exhibitions, programme and international collaborations throughout the event.

“Choosing Italy as the first country to be placed in the spotlight builds a bridge between two internationally renowned glassmaking traditions. Murano’s centuries-old expertise in glassmaking and Finnish glass design offer an intriguing dialogue that strengthens the Finnish Glass Biennale’s international profile and creates new opportunities for artistic, cultural and professional collaboration between the two countries,” says Hanna Mamia-Walther, Director of the Finnish Glass Museum.

The main exhibition, presented at the Old Glass Factory in Riihimäki, will be curated by Marco Zavagno and Enrica Cavarzan, founders of the internationally renowned Venetian design studio Zaven. The studio’s multidisciplinary practice spans product and spatial design, graphic design and art direction. Zaven has received several prestigious awards, including the Compasso d’Oro, Red Dot Design Award and iF Design Award.

More than 200 applications from around the world

In 2027, artists for the main exhibition will be selected through an international open call. More than 200 applications from around the world were received in response to the call held in summer 2026, reflecting growing international interest in the Finnish Glass Biennale, Finnish glassmaking expertise and glass culture.

“International recognition does not happen overnight. It takes time and extensive dialogue. From the outset, the founders of the Biennale were clear that the event should attract international content and audiences. For the inaugural edition, we invited renowned Japanese designer Akira Minagawa to curate the predominantly Finnish exhibition programme. When selecting Italy as the focus country for the following year, we wanted to ensure a gradual process of internationalisation. However, no one could have predicted the global interest that the Finnish Glass Biennale would generate. More than 200 applicants from over 30 countries for the main exhibition demonstrate that international reach can grow quickly when the idea and timing are right,” says Kari Korkman, Director of Luovi Productions.

Where glassmaking heritage meets new ideas

Finland enjoys a strong international reputation for its expertise in glass. The Finnish Glass Biennale builds bridges between traditional craftsmanship, contemporary art, design and new material experimentation, while raising the international profile of Finnish glass culture.

The inaugural event, held in June 2025, was a success, attracting a total of 18,500 visitors. Feedback from the first edition has supported the planning of the 2027 event. The Biennale will expand both in content and duration, giving visitors more time to explore exhibitions, accompanying events and the wider programme centred on glass.

Plans for the programme include a seminar, expert visits, exhibitions, live demonstrations, a vintage glass sales event and a glass auction. Partnership events organised with local stakeholders will also take place around the Biennale. The Finnish Glass Museum’s Biennale programme will include a solo exhibition by Italian artist Lilla Tabasso. The full programme for 2027 will be announced in January 2027.

Known as Finland’s glass city, Riihimäki will serve as the main location for the Biennale. In 2027, the event will have a stronger presence in Riihimäki’s city centre, extending further into the urban environment. The Old Glass Factory in Riihimäki will form the heart of the event, while the programme will also extend to Nuutajärvi, another historic Finnish glassmaking location. Nuutajärven Lasi will serve as a main partner of the Finnish Glass Biennale.

Open call for programme partners

The Finnish Glass Biennale invites artists, designers, communities, organisations and other stakeholders to contribute to the 2027 programme.

Applications to become a programme partner are open until 15 December 2026.

Further information: www.finnishglassbiennale.fi/en/partners