Ruisrock 2026: the guide to Finland's oldest rock festival

Ruisrock has been running every July on Ruissalo island since 1970, making it the oldest rock festival in Finland and one of the longest-running in Europe. Three days, two stages, a coastal island setting in Turku, and a mix of Finnish and international headliners. The 2026 edition took place 3–5 July at Kansanpuisto Park, with Lily Allen, Swedish House Mafia, Gunna and Electric Callboy among the headliners. Volt was on site. Here is everything you need to know about the festival.

Ruisrock 2026 at a glance

The festival and how it started

Ruisrock has been around longer than most festival goers alive today. Founded in 1970, it is the oldest rock festival in Finland and the second-oldest in Europe, after the Dutch Pinkpop Festival. The first edition drew a crowd of around 100,000 people, and the scale has stayed large ever since. The 2017, 2018 and 2019 editions each sold out at around 105,000 festival goers over the three days.

The site matters as much as the lineup. Ruissalo is a forested island nature reserve about five kilometres from Turku city centre, and the festival occupies two distinct areas: Niittyalue, the open meadow where the main stages sit, and Ranta-alue, the beach zone. You can walk from headliner sets to the water between shows. The island setting gives Ruisrock a character that indoor-arena festivals simply cannot replicate.

Past headliners include The Kinks, Nirvana, David Bowie, Aerosmith, Soundgarden and Sting. Ruisrock has historically been strong at mixing international names with acts that draw a loyal Finnish audience. The organisation has also made a public commitment to gender balance in its programming, achieving a 50/50 split by 2019 and maintaining it since.

Ruisrock was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The festival resumed in 2022 and has rebuilt to be one of the headline events of the Finnish summer calendar.

Ruisrock 2026 lineup

The 2026 edition featured 27 acts across the weekend. Confirmed headliners included Lily Allen, Swedish House Mafia, Gunna, Electric Callboy and Audrey Nuna. The programme mixed rock, pop, hip-hop and electronic sets across the main and secondary stages, reflecting the diversity Ruisrock has built into its booking since the mid-2010s.

For the full schedule and any additions, check ruisrock.fi. 2027 tickets are already on sale.

Getting to Ruissalo

There is no camping at Ruisrock. Festival goers stay in Turku and travel in and out each day, which shapes how the weekend works. Here are the main options.

Getting to Turku

Turku is around two hours from Helsinki by train. Turku Airport is 8 km from the city centre with regular domestic connections. Overnight ferry services from Stockholm arrive at Turku harbour, run by Tallink Silja and Viking Line, both operating twice-daily on that route. If you are coming from Stockholm or elsewhere in Sweden, the ferry puts you right in the city.

Getting to the island

From Turku city centre, the easiest option is the Föli city bus. Line 28 runs to Ruissalo during the festival weekend at higher-than-usual frequency, departing from Market Square (stops A8). The closest stop to the festival entrance is stop 538 Kasvitieteellinen puutarha, about one kilometre from the gates. Tickets cost €3.00 per single journey when paid contactlessly on the bus, and are valid for two hours including transfers. If you want a daily pass: €8.30 for one day, €11.40 for two days, €14.60 for three.

Cycling is also realistic in good weather. Fölläri city bikes are available across Turku at €2.00 per hour, with over 700 bikes in the network. A water bus runs from Martinsilta Bridge to the Ruissalo boatyard, though the landing point is around two kilometres from the festival entrance so factor that walk in.

Volt at Ruisrock

Volt runs charging and locker services on site at Ruisrock. That is part of how Volt operates across over 120 festivals & events each year, handling both charging and storage so festival goers do not have to think about it.

The Volt Charging Service is the staffed option: pick up a Volt-Charger (a pocket-sized powerbank) at a Volt point on arrival, carry it with you through the day, and swap it for a fresh one once a day at any staffed Volt swapping station. No hunting for wall outlets, no leaving your phone somewhere. You pay a refundable deposit on pickup and return the charger at the end of the festival.

Event Lockers let you drop bags and valuables at the start of each day and re-access them as many times as you want during opening hours. Your access code arrives by email and SMS before your slot starts. No paper tickets, just your phone.

Booking for Volt charging and lockers at Ruisrock opens closer to the event. Keep an eye on ruisrock.fi for announcements, or read how the services work on the Volt charging service page before you arrive.

What to know on the day

Each ticket is scanned at the gate once per festival day. Standard tickets do not become wristbands; you need your ticket every time you enter. Plus and VIP wristbands are the exception and allow freer movement.

Bags are checked at security. Glass bottles, umbrellas and professional recording equipment are not allowed in. Crowd surfing is banned on all stages. Drones are not permitted on the festival grounds.

Water refill stations are positioned around the site. Bringing a reusable bottle saves money and is the practical choice for a full festival day. Alcohol is restricted to designated 18+ areas. The terrain across the festival site is mostly grass, sand and gravel paths, with some uneven ground toward the beach, so footwear that handles both matters.

Temperatures in Turku in July are typically warm through the day but drop in the evenings, especially near the water. Bring a light layer for the late sets.

Accessibility

An accessible entrance is located around 400 metres from the accessible parking area. Viewing platforms with ramps are positioned near the main stages. Accessible toilets are available across the site, including near the viewing platforms. One companion or assistant may enter free of charge alongside a paying ticket holder who needs support. The terrain is mostly manageable, though the beach area has sand that can be difficult to navigate. Full details are in the Ruisrock info section.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ruisrock the oldest rock festival in Finland?

Yes. Ruisrock was founded in 1970 and is the oldest rock festival in Finland. It also holds the title of the second-oldest rock festival in Europe, after the Dutch Pinkpop Festival. Source: Wikipedia: Ruisrock.

Where exactly is Ruisrock?

The festival takes place at Kansanpuisto Park on Ruissalo island in Turku, Finland. Ruissalo is a forested nature reserve about five kilometres from Turku city centre, connected to the mainland by road and served by Föli public buses during the festival weekend. The festival area divides into a meadow zone (Niittyalue) and a beach zone (Ranta-alue).

Is there camping at Ruisrock?

No. There is no camping at the Ruisrock festival site. Festival goers stay in hotels, hostels or Airbnbs in Turku and travel to the island each day. Turku has a good range of accommodation options, and Föli Line 28 runs direct to the festival grounds at increased frequency across the weekend.

How do I get to Ruisrock from Turku city centre?

Take Föli Line 28 from Market Square (stops A8). Buses run directly to Ruissalo during the festival weekend with more frequent departures than usual. The closest stop to the festival entrance is stop 538 Kasvitieteellinen puutarha, about one kilometre from the gates. A single contactless ticket costs €3.00. Full route and schedule details are on the Föli Ruisrock page. Cycling (Fölläri city bikes, €2.00/hour) and water bus from Martinsilta Bridge are additional options.

Can I charge my phone at Ruisrock?

Yes. Volt runs on-site charging at Ruisrock. The Volt Charging Service lets you rent a Volt-Charger on arrival and swap it for a fresh one once per day at a staffed Volt point on site. You keep the powerbank with you all day, so there is no need to find a wall outlet or leave your phone unattended. Booking opens closer to the event; check ruisrock.fi for service details or read how it works at resources.getvolt.dk/services/charging.

When is Ruisrock 2027?

Ruisrock 2027 is scheduled for 9–11 July 2027 in Turku, Finland. Tickets are already on sale via ruisrock.fi/tickets. The festival publishes the lineup progressively across the year in the lead-up to the event.