Come and Create the Baltic Sea Day in Turku on August 27!
The Baltic Sea Challenge and Forum Marinum once again invite Baltic Sea actors and cultural practitioners to co-create a diverse and engaging Baltic Sea Day event at the Forum Marinum yard area on 27 August from 13 to 19.
As part of the national Baltic Sea Day, our shared sea is celebrated in Turku through science, art and collective action. The aim is to increase understanding of the Baltic Sea and inspire concrete actions for its wellbeing.
This year’s themes are ocean literacy, maritime activities, and the prevention of littering. The programme is encouraged to be interactive, participatory and experiential.
Baltic Sea Actor: Come and Present Your Work and Inspire Residents
We are looking for organisations, educational institutions, researchers, companies, and other actors interested in the Baltic Sea to showcase their work and offer activities, knowledge, or experiences to the public. You can, for example, present your research, organise a workshop, bring hands-on methods to try out, or share ways in which residents can contribute to the wellbeing of the Baltic Sea. Participation is an excellent way to gain visibility and reach new audiences.
We will organise an information session for all interested participants on 4 March. The preliminary programme outline and practical arrangements will be presented. Join the Teams Seminar
Please register for the Baltic Sea Day no later than 31 March using the form.
Cultural Actor: Apply With Pop-up Art Programme
We are also seeking diverse art and cultural content through the City of Turku’s pop-up art call. We welcome works and performances that make Baltic Sea themes visible and tangible from new perspectives – whether light-hearted, thought-provoking, or surprising.
Apply if you want to be part of a city-wide maritime celebration and reach a broad audience in an inspiring setting.
The application period is 9 February–1 March 2026. More information and application instructions are available on the City of Turku website. Under the section “Open calls”, you will find a more detailed description of the Baltic Sea Day event.
Apply via the City of Turku’s website
What Is the Baltic Sea Day?
Baltic Sea Day is a national celebration initiated by the John Nurminen Foundation, aiming to inspire people to enjoy our unique home sea and to take concrete action for its benefit. The day raises awareness of the sea’s diverse nature, culture and history, and is celebrated across the country through various events and activities.
In Turku, the theme day has been celebrated for seven years. The event has become established at the maritime yard area of Forum Marinum, which attracted hundreds of visitors last year.
Explore last year’s materials below to get a better idea of what to expect.