Tampere Region Festivals has elected the association’s board members and chair for the year 2026. The new chair of the board will be Johannes Rantanen, Executive Director of Sastamala Gregoriana, who has previously served on the association’s board in 2019 and 2021–2024. The new board’s term will begin in January 2026; until then, the chair will continue to be Jukka Heinämäki, who has led the board for four years.
“It is a great honour to continue the work done by Jukka Heinämäki and other predecessors in leading Tampere Region Festivals. This network has been guided wisely and with long-term vision, and I respect the foundation on which we, together with the new board and staff, can now build the next steps,” Rantanen reflects on his new role.
Together toward a stronger cultural sector
The new chair already has plans for the upcoming board term.
In the coming term, Rantanen wants to help develop the operations and visibility of festivals locally, nationally, and internationally. At the core of this work are listening to the members, understanding everyday needs, and building agile forms of cooperation that genuinely benefit the actors involved. In addition, Rantanen considers that it is important to strengthen shared positions and advocacy efforts together with organisations such as Finland Festivals, Tapahtumateollisuus ry, LiveFIN, and other operators of the sector.
“My long experience in the events sector has made the ongoing transformation within the entire industry very visible — and right now, shared dialogue, information exchange, and advocacy are more important than ever.”
Alongside his work in Sastamala, Rantanen also brings strong international expertise; earlier this year, he was elected to the highest leadership group of REMA, the European Early Music Network. REMA’s network includes nearly 200 professional members from around the world. The new chair’s networks and expertise will also strengthen the international operations of Tampere Region Festivals.
“Internationally, I want to reinforce the connections that help Pirkanmaa region and its festivals position themselves more firmly within the European cultural network. For example, Tampere joining the EFFE Seal network is an excellent step, as it opens new channels for visibility, collaboration, and monitoring sector developments. I hope that my own positions of responsibility and European contacts can support this work by bringing up-to-date perspectives to the region, while sharing Pirkanmaa’s unique model of cooperation elsewhere as well.”
New additions to the board
Miikka Huisko and Johanna Tohni have been elected as new members of the Tampere Region Festivals board for 2026, joining the association’s board for the first time. Miikka represents Pispala Schottische and TRADI, while Johanna represents the Tomatoes! Tomatoes! Stand-up Comedy Festival. Overall, the board of Tampere Region Festivals broadly represents various art forms — from music, visual arts, literature, and photography to theatre, poetry, and dance.
The new board will begin its term at the start of 2026. The board’s term of office is one calendar year.
Members of Tampere Region Festivals 2026 board: Päivi Mäki-Kerttula (left), Johanna Tohni, Miikka Huisko, Johannes Rantanen, Katariina Pasuri, and Laura Impola. Photo: Sampsa Suokas.
Tampere Region Festivals Board 2026
Chair
Johannes Rantanen, Sastamala Gregoriana
Members
Marianna Lehtinen, City of Tampere
Miikka Huisko, Pispala Schottische and TRADI
Johanna Tohni, Tomatoes! Tomatoes! Stand-up Comedy Festival
Sampsa Virkajärvi, Mänttä Art Festival
Laura Impola, Workers’ Music Festival
Marko Salonen, Tampere Guitar Festival
Terhi Asumaniemi, Backlight Photo Festival
Simo Ollila, Annikki Poetry Festival
Deputy Members
Disa Kamula, Tampere Flamenco Festival
Katariina Pasuri, Tampere Music Festivals
Päivi Mäki-Kerttula, The Days of Old Literature
Article photo: Akifoto.
