Kihaus 2026 performers
Performer introductions will be added throughout the spring!
Performer changes are possible and additions are certain!
Auri – a magical and cinematic concert
Sat 11 July 2026 at 5 p.m. Rääkkylä Church
Auri (Johanna Kurkela, Tuomas Holopainen, Troy Donockley), who moves between Celtic folk and cinematic pop, will make their debut at Finnish festivals next summer. Auri’s music is known for its dreamlike and atmospheric nature – the concert at Rääkkylä Church provides the perfect setting for the band.
Antti Paalanen – one-man rhythm machine
Sat 11 July 2026 at 10 p.m. Tsaiju
UMK2026 finalist Antti Paalanen is a bold innovator of the accordion, combining the instrument with techno and throat singing to create a unique sound. His energetic one-man band has charmed audiences around the world, and Paalanen’s surprising cover videos have reached millions of viewers on social media.
Frigg – an international phenomenon in Nordic contemporary folk music
Sat 11 July 2026 at 8 p.m. Main Stage
Frigg, formed in Kaustinen in 2000, has become one of the best-known folk bands in the Nordic countries. The band has toured the world from WOMAD to Telluride and established itself as an uncompromising, energetic performer.
Lauri Schreck – modern innovator of the kantele
Fri 10 July 2026 at 6 p.m. Suuri Kanteleilta
Lauri Schreck is a bold innovator of the kantele, combining the traditional sound of this national instrument with pop, rock, and electronic music. His virtuoso playing and versatility have made him a star of Finnish contemporary folk music.
Maria Kalaniemi & Timo Alakotila – a masterful accordion and piano duo
Fri 10 July 2026 at 9 p.m. Main stage
Accordionist Maria Kalaniemi and pianist-composer Timo Alakotila are pioneers of new Finnish folk music. Their collaboration, spanning more than 20 years, has produced numerous concert hall-filling works in which the dialogue between the accordion and piano is exceptionally rich.
Veila – the world’s first kantele ensemble
Fri 10 July 2026 at 6 p.m. Suuri Kanteleilta
Joensuu-based Veila is the world’s first kantele ensemble, which arranges pop hits for a kantele ensemble designed for four players and built by Koistinen.
Veila combines its instrument with four-part singing and powerful performances. The ensemble has performed at Ilosaarirock and in Brussels, as well as on Finnish TV programs, and has received awards such as the Joensuu Pop Musicians’ Hyvä tyypit! (Good Guys!) award and the Karjalainen Vuoden kulttuuriteko (Karjalainen Cultural Achievement of the Year) award.
Ilja Teppo – a storyteller who makes audiences laugh and cry
Sat 11 July 2026 at 6.30 p.m. Tsaiju
Singer-songwriter Ilja Teppo is known as a performer who moves smoothly between the tradition of couplets and sensitive songs. Nearly 2,000 gigs have honed Teppo into a performer who can adapt to anything from christenings to funerals and everything in between.
Teppo’s background as the son of couplet singer Jaakko Teppo brings a unique flavor to his performances, which often feature excerpts from his father’s work. Ilja will release a new album in 2026.
Kiertolaiset – a collision of junttipop, folk tradition, and electronic music
Sat 11 July 2026 at 11:30 p.m. Tsaiju
Kiertolaiset combine Finnish pop, folk tradition and electronic music with the power of the human voice in a way that has given rise to their own genre: junttipop. The band’s music blends beatboxing, human voice effects, and electronic rhythms into straightforward, emotionally charged celebrations of love and the joys of life. Kiertolaiset are known for their courage in bringing old folk songs into the present day – unapologetically, charmingly, and with their own recognizable touch.
Se on Rillumarei! – A new era for the couplet tradition
Sat, July 11, 2026, at 6 p.m. Tsaiju
A production in the spirit of Esa Pakarinen, in which contemporary artists interpret the tradition of cabaret with a fresh twist. Expect warmth, humor, and respect for tradition.
Performers will include Ilja Teppo Trio, Duo Petra & Riitta, and Riäkkyteatteri.
Grand Pelimanni Parade
Sat, July 11, 2026, at 1 p.m. Tsaiju
Kihaus’ beloved tradition brings musicians together under the direction of Pentti Ojajärvi. The folk music tradition has been at the heart of the festival for decades. Naturally, the Rääkkylä Folk Musicians led by Kari Kinnunen and the Kihaus Folk Music Course participants will be there.
