UTOPIAS LAHTI 26
“CRYSTAL PALACE”

MAY
7–24
2026

UTOPIAS LAHTI FESTIVAL VOL. III

Utopias Lahti is an artist-run visual arts festival organised in Lahti, Finland. The third edition of the festival will take place in May 2026. See the program here.

Utopias Lahti centres on artistic practices that activate speculation, conjecture, and imagination as catalysts for systemic change. The curation and development of the festival are guided by principles of sustainability and approachability. While our background as organisers is rooted in photography, the festival expands into other artistic fields as well, with an emphasis on lens-based media.

Utopias Lahti critically examines the material streams associated with exhibiting lens-based art. Over the years, we have built a local circular economy network that allows us to build the festival primarily using recycled materials.

In 2026, the festival will focus on the role of site-specific practices in lens-based art.

The festival is organised by VTRY (Lahti Association of Photographic Artists). The 2026 edition is supported by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, Nordic Culture Point, the Olga & Vilho Linnamo Foundation, and the Patricia Seppälä Foundation. We also collaborate with the LAB Institute of Design and Fine Arts.

Festival team 2026: Henri Airo, Toivo Heinimäki, Mikko Kerttula, Jaakob Lahtinen, Ronja Siitonen, Veeti Valkama, Iida Viio

Contact us: info@utopiaslahti.com

Background image: Victoria Pidust

@utopiaslahti

@vtry_lahti