ODDfest: A New Meeting Place for the Creative Industries in Helsinki
ODDfest was born from the idea that the creative industries in Finland need a new kind of platform: a place where art, business, social discourse, and international networks are not separate silos, but part of a single whole. The first ODDfest was held in Helsinki’s Lasipalatsi district on June 6–7, 2025. The event’s core concept was to build bridges between creative professionals, organizations, companies, and the public in a way that combines elements of a festival, a conference, and an experimental platform.
ODDfest is part of the broader All Things ODD initiative, which is based on the idea that creativity can drive culture, people, and business forward.
The event’s innovative nature is most evident in its format. ODDfest doesn’t fit neatly into any single category: it brings together performances, discussions, workshops, music, film, digital art, design, and the performing arts in a single program. During the day, the focus is on learning, talks, and encounters; in the evening, on performances, clubs, and the festival atmosphere. The 2026 event consists of three parts: ODDfest, the ODDference conference for the creative industries and business, and Creative Week, which spreads throughout the city.
ODDfest brings together a wide range of creators from various artistic disciplines and the creative economy. The program is developed in collaboration with artists, curators, cultural organizations, creative industry professionals, and a variety of partners. The festival brings together dance, theater, film, contemporary art, music, the gaming industry, circus, and discussions on creative work, among other things.
The first ODDfest came together quickly. Its 2025 debut drew 2,600 visitors, a volunteer community of over 100 people, and sparked interest in more than 20 countries. The event also launched new collaborative projects and brought the economic significance of the creative industries into the public discourse. That same year, ODDfest was awarded the Music x Media and City of Tampere LUO(V)UUS Award, which is given to innovators in the creative economy.
The story of ODDfest reflects a broader shift in the Finnish cultural landscape. Creativity is not treated merely as program content or an experience, but also as a form of expertise that can give rise to new forms of collaboration, business, and social thinking. That is why ODDfest is an interesting phenomenon: it not only showcases creative fields but also seeks to change the way their value is understood.