LittFest Program

LittFest 25 years – opening ceremony

 15:00–18:00 | Vaasa City Hall

LittFest celebrates its 25th anniversary with a grand opening ceremony at Vaasa City Hall. The opening ceremony brings together lovers of literature, authors and partners to launch the festival and celebrate a quarter century worth of cultural work in literature.

15.00 Opening speech  

Director of Culture and Library Services Sanna Bondas will open the Centenary festival.

15.10–15.40 Monika Fagerholm

Monika Fagerholm, one of the most respected contemporary writers in the Nordic countries and she will be talking about her own work, her career and her output, opening up about the meaning of writing and the backgrounds behind her work. Reflecting on the role of literature in modern times and her own relationship with writing.   

Language: Swedish  

15.45–16.30 Enni Mustonen & Sannasirkku Autio

Popular author Enni Mustonen and the Principal of Alma Adult Education Center  Sannasirkku Autio will discuss the author’s work, the appeal of historical novels, and the meaning of stories for readers. The interview will open up about both the writing process and the background to Mustonen’s beloved work.  

Language: Finnish 

16.30–17.45 Entertainment literature in the spotlight: SK Rostedt, Siri Kolu, Emmi Itäranta

What is entertainment literature today, and why does it touch such a large group of readers? The discussion will examines the status, appreciation, and diversity of entertainment literature from the perspective of different genres. The authors will also be reflecting on the change in reading, the importance of the audience, and what kind of entertainment literature today’s readers are looking for. The discussion is going to be moderated by Hanna Hietikko .  

Language: Finnish  

18:00–20:00   

Restaurant Kulma at Vaasa City Theatre 

18:00–19:00 On Courage  

Actress Sari Siikander and writer Johanna Venho are going to be discussing courage in life, art and literature. Seppo Välinen, director of Vaasa City Theatre , leads the discussion, which will consider the importance of creativity, expression and one’s own choices, as well as the kind of marks courage leaves on people and society.  

Language: Finnish  

19:00–20:00 Chaconne  

The evening will end with Chaconne, a performance combining poetry and early music, based on Lassi Nummi’s poem of the same name, and its name also refers to the musical form structure of the Baroque period, with its repetitive and changing chord progression.  

In the performance, Nummi’s poems converse with baroque music, creating an impressive whole where words, melodies and moods intertwine. The stage will feature the Öjenin antimet band led by Panu Sivonen and Airi Ropponen-Lindroos, also known from Runonkulkijoti .   

Language: Finnish  

Alma Community College, ballroom, Raastuvankatu 31  

15.00–15.45 Ivan Maniraho  

Ivan Maniraho is a social worker and writer from Helsinki. His debut novel, why the Sun published in 2025, and his second novel, The Blackness of Darkness, was published in spring 2026. The discussion will examine the power of literature to build understanding between people, as well as themes related to identity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.   

Language: Finnish  

Drama Hall 4:00 PM–7:00 PM  

16:00–16:45 Axel Åhman & Vasa Training School Gymnasium  

Writer and musician Axel Åhman will meet with students from Vasa Övningsskolas gymnasium in a discussion where the young people will act as interviewers. The event will discuss Åhman’s career, writing, creativity and the meaning of literature. It promises to be an interesting and topical encounter from the perspective of young people.   

Language: Swedish  

16.50–17.25 Johanna Venho & Juhani Karila  

What does love do to a person, and what forms does it take in literature? Writers Johanna Venho and Juhani Karila discuss the reflections of love through their works. Karila’s My therapist is a warewolf and Venho’s what love does to us? examine humanity, intimacy, and the diversity of human relationships from unique perspectives. The discussion will be led by literary journalist Seppo Puttonen .  

Language: Finnish  

17:30–18:00 Anni Reuter & Laura Lindén   

How does a book find new life in another language? Researcher and non-fiction writer Anni Reuter will be discussing literature, translation, and the different stages of the process with translator Laura Lindén . The discussion will explore the journey of a work from the original text to the finished translation, as well as the translator’s central role as a bridge builder between literature and cultures.   

In collaboration with the Swedish Literary Society in Finland and the Finnish Translators and Interpreters Association  

Language: Finnish and Swedish  

18.00–19.00 Ostrobothnian Renaissance  

The Ostrobothnian coast has emerged strongly in the field of Swedish-language literature in recent years. In the discussion, writers Ulrika Hansson , Axel Åhman , Ellen Strömberg and Ralf Andtbacka will consider what the phenomenon is about and what kind of voices are being heard from Ostrobothnia right now. The discussion will be led by researcher Julia Tidigs . The event will examine the literary vitality of the region, new perspectives and the importance of locality in contemporary literature.  

Language: Swedish  

19:00–20:00 Heavy Finland  

Ari Elo, Jukka Kittila, Juuso Määttänen & Marko Hautala  

Finland is known worldwide as the land of a thousand lakes, but it is also a superpower for metal music. How did a subculture that originated in basements and youth centers grow into an international phenomenon and part of Finnish identity? The discussion will consider the roots, success, myths and significance of Finnish metal for Finnish culture.  

Language: Finnish  

 Town hall  

18.00–19.00  Emotional Courage & Via Dolorosa

Tommi Läntinen & Helena Åhman  

Hardly anyone knows and can talk more deeply about the challenges of working life than working life professor Helena Åhman. In a lecture concert, she will focus on facing emotions and demanding situations based on her new book Emotional Courage. Åhman will be paired with Tommi Läntinen, a Finnish rock legend, who has written numerous songs on the same themes. On his latest album, he interprets key songs from his career as acoustic versions, and it is in this kind of sound world that the Vaasa City Orchestra is at its best which is why they will be performing.

So, there will be thought-provoking scientific and artistic perspectives on the art of speaking directly and also understanding others along with an engaing musical performance.

Language: Finnish  

Tickets: €34 / €28 / €2 

Buy tickets

Ace of Spades  

21.00 Heavy Metal Karaoke   

Come join us to sing and interpret heavy music classics! 

Drama Hall  Main Library

10:30–12:00 Petteri’s sofa   

Petteri’s Sofa brings together interesting guest authors and topical discussions. The program will feature a series of short interviews in which Petter Lindberg interviews Kjell Westötä , Sirpa Kähkönä , Vesa Rantamaa and Ivan Maniraho . The discussions will deal with matters of literature, writing and current cultural topics in a relaxed and warm-hearted manner.  

Language: Finnish and Swedish  

12.05–12.50 Jessikka Aro & Erkka Mikkonen  

Journalists and non-fiction writers Jessikka Aro and Erkka Mikkonen will discuss the societal and global phenomena that are shaping our world. The discussion will examine, among other things, the use of power, information influence, the challenges of democracy, and the role of journalists in a rapidly changing international operating environment. The interviewer will be Hanna Hietikko .  

Language: Finnish  

12.55–13.40 Sirpa Kähkönen  

What can words reach, and what remains beyond their reach? Sirpa Kähkönen will be talking about the book Letters about Presence (written together with Bishop Mari Leppänen), which focuses on the big questions of presence, humanity and life. The discussion examines the meaning of words and silence, and how literature can help us understand ourselves, others and the world around us. The interviewer will be Sannasirkku Autio.  

Language: Finnish  

13.45–14.30 Janne & Johnny Ramstedt  

Detective brothers Janne and Johnny Ramstedt will be talking about crime fiction, their writing process, and their latest work. The discussion will focus on the ability of detective fiction to reflect social phenomena and current issues, as well as how reality and fiction meet in crime fiction. The interviewer is going to be Patrik Back .  

Language: Swedish  

14.35–15.20 Juuli Niemi, Saila Susiluoto & Vesa Rantama  

What can poetry do for the world and for ourselves? Writers Juuli Niemi and Saila Susiluoto will discuss the power of poetry, their new works, and why reading poetry is still relevant. The discussion will be moderated by Vesa Rantama . The event will be a tribute to poetry, its ability to open new perspectives, provoke thoughts, and create change on both an individual and societal level.  

Language: Finnish 

15.25–16.10 Kjell Westö & Olli Jalonen  

Two respected voices in Finnish literature, Kjell Westö and Olli Jalonen , will meet in a discussion that will examine writing, artistry and the different stages of life. The discussion will also touch on themes of aging and the way literature describes human choices, good intentions and their sometimes surprising consequences. The discussion will be moderated by Seppo Puttonen .   

Language: Finnish  

 16.15–17.00 Ulrika Hansson   

Author Ulrika Hansson will be talking about her work and the way literature portrays women’s feelings, experiences and agency. The discussion will focus on the so-called holy rage: how anger, resistance and strong emotions are reflected in literature and what kind of stories can be told through them. It will be interviewed by Jenna Matintupa .  

Language: Swedish  

17.05–17.50 Ville Mäkipelto & Tuomas Enbuske  

Nonfiction writer and theologian Ville Mäkipelto and journalist Tuomas Enbuske will be meeting to consider the big questions of life. The discussion will cover religion, the philosophy of life and different  worldviews, as well as how knowledge, faith and critical thinking can complement each other. An interesting and thought-provoking discussion combining expertise, curiosity and different perspectives is guaranteed.   

Language: Finnish  

18.00-19.00 There is history behind the story 

How is a historical world constructed to be believable in the pages of a novel? How does the background work required for historical research differ from the background work for a historical novel, or does it differ? Do the sources used by historians and writers differ, and how are the gaps in history filled? The discussion will delve into the background work of those writing about history, the balance between fact and fiction, and the fascinating challenges of historical writing. 

The panelists include journalist and author Anne Puumala , whose recent non-fiction book Fransin krije 1918 has just been published, and author and historian Kaisa Viitala , known for her historical novels. The discussion will be moderated by writing teacher, journalist and playwright Inka Vilén . 

In Collaboration with the Ostrobothnian Writers’ Association. 

Language: Finnish