International cooperation
Saimaa Phenomenon2026 engages in extensive international cooperation. The attached map includes the other European Capitals of Culture (currently 18) included in the program content, other Russian and European cooperation cities and events with which there is an exchange of content, and the friend cities of Savonlinna.
ECOC CITIES
1 Helsinki 2000
2 Turku 2011
3 Umeå 2014
4 Plovdiv 2019
5 Matera 2019
6 Galway 2020
7 Timisoara 2021 (2023)
8 Kaunas 2022
9 Vezprém-Balaton 2023
10 Salzgammergut 2024
11 Bodø 2024
12 Tartu 2024
13 Nova Gorica 2025
14 Chemnitz 2025
15 Žilina 2026
16 Nitra 2026
17 Trenčín 2026
18 Cēsis 2027
19 Faro 2027
20 Clermont-Ferrandt 2028
21 Rouen 2028
Other programme partners
Croatia
1 Zagreb
• Kontejner
Estonia
2 Haanja
• Mooska Suitsusaunatalu
3 Narva
• The City of Narva
• Narva Museum
• Narva Art Residency
• Estonian Integration Foundation
4 Pärnu
• MTÜ Fenno-Ugria Asutus
5 Tallinn
• Estonian Choral Association (ECA)
Germany
6 Berlin
• The Schaubühne
• Public Art Lab and The Finnish Institute in Germany
• Berlin University of Arts
Great Britain
7 Brighton
• Brighton Festival
8 Cornwall
• Falmouth University
9 Glasgow
• Sonica (GB, Glasgow)
10 Norwich
• Norfolk & Norwich Festival
Hungary
11 Budapest
• Moholy Nagy University of Art and Design
12 Vezprém
• University of Pannonia
Iceland
13 Reykjavik
• Dansverkstæðið
Italy
14 Gorizia
• Gusti di Frontiera
15 San Remo
• San Remo Song Contest
Latvia
16 Riga
• International Festival ofContemporary Theatre − Homo Novus
• The Theatre Institute of Latvia
Lithuania
17 Kaunas
• Vytautas Magnus University (VMU)
Luxemburg
18 Luxemburg
• TROIS C-L − Centre de Création Chorégraphique Luxembourgeois
Netherlands
19 Amsterdam
• ICK Dans Amsterdam
20 Tillburg
• Close-act-theatre
Norway
21 Bergen
• Bergen Centre for Electronic Arts
Spain
22 Barcelona
• International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism
Russia
23 Khanty-Mansi
• Nature and People Museum
• Arts and Culture Development Foundation ORIS
24 Moscow
• Romen Theatre, Russian national banya association
25 Novgorod
• The National Museum Velikiy Novgorod
26 Petrozavodsk
• Kizhi Museum Island
• Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Karelia
27 The City of Pitkäranta
28 The City of Pskov
29 Sortavala
• The City of Sortavala
• Social and Cultural Youth Centre in Sortavala
30 St. Petersburg
• The Finnish Institute in St. Petersburg
• Kunstkamera (Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography)
• Leningrad Oblast Cultural Committee
• St. Petersburg City Cultural Committee
31 Buranovo
• National Library of Udmurtia
• Udmurt State University
32 Vyborg
• Artist Residency of Vyborg Pamaus
• Svjataja krepost Theatre
• Kukushka Festival
Somalia
33 Beledweyne
• Hiiraan University
Other important programme partners:
• World Poetry Slam Organization
• University Network of The European Capitals of Culture
• Campus Network
• Human Security Europe Network
• Artists at Risk
Saimaa Phenomenon 2026 on the Move:
• Pop Up Sauna
• Berlin–Savonlinna Express
• Mobile Library
• Saimaa Culture Cubicle
• Steam Power! A steamboat from Russia to Finland
Sister cities
SAVONLINNA
1 Detmold, Germany
2 Kalmar, Sweden
3 Torzhok, Russia
4 Árborg, Iceland
5 Arendal, Norway
6 Silkeborg, Denmark
7 Budavár, Budapest City Zone 1, Hungary
Saimaa region municipalitieshave more than 70 Sister cities