Hancock, the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture, unveils logo and preliminary programme

On 21 June, Narva – the 2025 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture – announced the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture, which will be Hancock, Michigan, USA.
According to the coordinator of Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture Oliver Loode (URALIC Centre), the choice of Hancock as the next Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture is in line with the strategy of expanding the geography of Finno-Ugric cooperation by involving countries, peoples, and communities that have not previously participated in it.

Hancock is known as the capital of Finnish-American culture and has earned the nickname Amerikan suomalaisten pesäpaikka – the home of American Finns – and rightly so. Hancock is a town of 4,500 inhabitants in Houghton County, Michigan, on the Upper Peninsula. The city is home to the Finnish American Heritage Center, the Finnish American Folk School, and newspaper The Finnish American Reporter.

Hancock recently unveiled its Capital of Culture logo and has released a preliminary programme.

Programme

Within this framework, some annual events and programmes are taking on a broader Finno-Ugric flavour. For example, Heikinpäivä, the first event of the Capital of Culture year in January, offers Estonian and Hungarian delicacies as part of an ethnic food fair.

Other important events include Midsummer Day (20 June) and the Parade of Nations (19 September), as well as a programme summarising the year on Finnish Independence Day (6 December).

“Since there are no other significant Finno-Ugric communities in our region, we hope to receive feedback from across the country,” said James Kurtti, one of the organisers of the Capital of Culture and Honorary Consul of Finland in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The cornerstone event of the year is the Midsummer Festival Juhannus Suurjuhlat (18-21 June 2026). The festival will feature lectures, presentations, an ethnic market, music and games, flag raising, bonfires, and excursions in the region. Both Estonian Ambassador Kristjan Prikk and Finnish Ambassador Kaisa Leena Mikkola have confirmed their attendance.