Finland invites singles from around the world for free to find love
Helsinki: Finland is inviting singles from around the world to apply for a blind-date group dinner in Helsinki or Tampere in February 2027, with applications open until November 10, according to Business Finland.
Sixteen singles will be chosen for two group dinners, eight at each, where they will share a tasting menu of Finnish food with local singles and other food lovers, the agency said.
Anyone can apply at FinnishDinnerDate.com, and the dinners will take place between February 9 and 19, 2027.
How to apply
Applicants must answer one question, "What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?", in an English video posted on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
They must use the hashtag #FinnishDinnerDate, tag Visit Finland's account on the platform, and submit the video link through the form on the website.
Those who prefer not to post publicly can upload the video to YouTube as unlisted and share that link instead, the organisers said.
Applications close at 11:59 a.m. Finnish time (UTC+2) on Tuesday, November 10, and the chosen participants will be announced on December 1 on Visit Finland's Instagram and TikTok pages.
What the dinners involve
The location of each dinner will be revealed only after participants confirm, as the first "blind" part of the trip, Business Finland said.
Guests will dine together on one of Finland's official tasting menus, which the country created in early 2026 to define its national cuisine.
The Helsinki menu is by Adele Kinnunen, head chef at Café Savoy, and the Lakeland menu in Tampere is by Henry Tikkanen of the restaurant Gösta, a former Bocuse d'Or competitor for Finland.
The idea behind it
The dinners were inspired by Finland's viral "Sinkkukori," or "single basket," trend, in which local singles carry pink grocery baskets to signal that they are open to meeting someone.
"Food brings Finns together, and now we are inviting travellers to join us," said Heli Jimenez, Senior Director of International Marketing at Business Finland.
Jimenez said she hopes visitors will find love "with each other, with Finnish food or with their new favorite travel destination."
Business Finland says Finnish food, built on wild fish, game, berries and mushrooms, remains one of Europe's least-known cuisines.
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