The Maailma kylässä festival to be held this weekend has made a historic decision. There is no food available.
The atmosphere of the World in a Village festival from 2011. INKA SOVERI
– This is a big decision, admits the communications manager of the Maailma kylässä festival Nelli Korpi Iltalehti on the phone.
This weekend’s festival in Helsinki will be without food stalls for the first time. At the festivals held since 1995, food has played a significant role. In the best years there have been 70 food stalls, in recent years 40–50.
Korpi admits that even the organizers have been proud of the festival’s food offering, which has not been available elsewhere.
According to Korve, there are several reasons for the food decision: the reduced festival area, costs and the desire to give space to the members of Fingo, the organizer of the event.
– Last fall, we were thinking about the future of festivals and there was a lot of hope for renewal and finding a new area. Decisions had to be made about what to invest in renovating the festival. It is a pity that the food vendors have been left out, Korpi states.
There have been up to 70 food stalls at the Maailma kylässa festival. The world in the village
This year, the festival moved to the heart of Helsinki, Lasipalatsi square and Narinkkatori. The new, smaller area set strict limits for production.
In addition, the facilities required by food vendors, such as electricity, water and food permits, make them more expensive exhibitors than others.
– The goal was to reduce festival production and costs. It was in the background, says Korpi.
At the same time, the total number of exhibitors at the festival has been halved and Fingo’s member organizations and other organizations have been given more space. Fingo is an umbrella organization of development organizations that promotes sustainable development and the strengthening of civil society globally.
The organizers are considering the option of bringing only a few, for example five food stalls. However, the idea was abandoned because it was considered difficult to select sellers from among dozens of willing ones. In addition, the amount of work and costs required by even a small amount would have been high.
There are no food stalls at the World in the Village festival this year. INKA SOVERI
– We decided not to do it, says Korpi.
However, he continues that the decision is not necessarily permanent. Already for next year, the possibility of bringing food back to the festival is being considered, possibly on a smaller scale, for example with twenty vendors.
Although there are no food stalls in the festival area, Korpi reminds us that Kamppi’s surroundings are full of different restaurants. He does not think that festival-goers will go to eat in the big chains in the center, but rather choose ethnic or vegan options.
– We carefully researched that Kamppi is full of small and interesting restaurants, where you can get a variety of food.
At the Maailma kylsä festival, you may see food stalls again next year. The world in the village
However, Korpi admits that without food the festival experience is different.
– Of course, it’s a different thing than eating festival food and walking around the area with it and watching the program at the same time.
On the positive side, Korpi sees that the absence of food stalls significantly reduces the amount of waste generated from the festival, such as food containers.
The festival has received a lot of feedback about the decision, and Korpi understands the audience’s disappointment.
– There has been a lot of surprise.
This year’s visitor goal is 20,000–30,000 people, which is clearly less than last year’s more than 60,000 visitors in Suvilahti.
World in the village festival 16.–17.5.2026 Lasipalatsikorteli, Helsinki