by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 2:25 AM ET, Tue October 20, 2026
Finland has been a hotbed of creative advertising campaigns lately. From billboards inviting Pamela Anderson to explore her Finnish heritage to pink baskets in the supermarket to show off one’s “single and ready to mingle” status, the ideas are a little bit cheeky and a lot of fun.
Visit Finland’s new campaign continues the theme, inviting people to “Have some Finnish” and fall in love with the country’s food — and people. The tourism board is hosting blind dates for winners of its newly launched contest as a way to showcase the unsung gastronomy of the Nordic country, and maybe as a way to find love with the right Finn.
“Finnish food is a direct expression of our famously happy way of life: a way of connecting to place, to season, and to the people around you,” says Heli Jimenez, Senior Director, International Marketing at Business Finland. “Food brings Finns together, and now we are inviting travellers to join us in a truly one-of-a-kind way.”
Two dating events will be held, one in Helsinki and the other in the Lakeland city of Tampere, with eight winners invited to each.
“From sauna food traditions to foraging, Finnish cuisine tells a story that exists nowhere else. We want visitors to experience that story in full," Jimenez says. “Coming to the world’s happiest country, they may find love – with each other, with Finnish food or with their new favorite travel destination.”
The Finnish Dinner Date: Key Details
- The 2027 Finnish Dinner Date experiences will take place between February 9 and 19, 2027.
- One dinner event will be held in Helsinki and the other in Tampere. The winners’ exact dinner destination is the first blind match of the trip: revealed upon confirmation of participation. The blind dinner date is organized as a relaxed group event, with all participants dining together and enjoying one of Finland’s official tasting menus.
- Applications close on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 11:59 AM Finnish time (EET, UTC+2)
- 8 participants selected per tasting
- The selected participants are publicly announced on December 1 via Visit Finland’s social media channels (Instagram and TikTok).
To apply, simply answer one question: What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?
Applying takes two steps:
- Create a video in English sharing your answer. Post your video on Instagram, TikTok or Youtube, use #FinnishDinnerDate and tag us (@ourfinland on Instagram, @visitfinland.com on TikTok and @VisitFinland on Youtube).
- Complete the application form at FinnishDinnerDate.com and add a link to your video post. If you prefer not to post publicly, you can also upload your video to YouTube as Unlisted (only people with the link can view it) and include the link in your application form.
Learn more about the happiest country in the world with TravelPulse Canada's Finland destination guide.
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