At the beginning of June, the village of Kaukonen in Kittilä transforms into a stage for international contemporary circus and music. The Silence Festival, held from 4–7 June 2026, presents a record number of premieres and unique multidisciplinary encounters.
Recognized with the Finnish State Prize for Circus Arts in 2017, the Silence Festival brings a high-quality international programme to the Finnish summer festival scene. Focused on new artistic work, the programme is built on a dialogue between contemporary circus and music, set in the beautiful village of Kaukonen in Lapland. The role of visual arts is stronger than before.
Whole program: www.hiljaisuusfestivaali.fi
Highlights from the circus programme:
Jani Nuutinen: INERTIUM
A commissioned work by Finnish contemporary circus pioneer Jani Nuutinen takes the audience into the space between art and science, exploring humanity’s capacity for transformation. On stage, four performers merge circus, operatic singing and electroacoustic music into an immersive ritual that manipulates states of matter. World premiere of the Inertia Trilogy.
Between the Lines – Zaza Kuik (NL) & Vilma Jää (FI)
Knife thrower Zaza Kuik and musician Vilma Jää create an entirely new collaborative piece during the festival week. Developed through an “instant creation” method, the work premieres at its most raw and intense stage of creation.
We Are Stones – Evening Concert in the Circus Tent
A multidisciplinary evening combining musical and circus traditions with the radical freshness of contemporary art. The concert features the world premiere of air an oir (2026) by Lisa Robertson, with circus artist Noémie Deumié embodying the dramaturgy of the evening.
Arctic Ensemble: Ensembled
A Finnish contemporary circus group, Arctic Ensemble brings both their own circus tent and their work Ensembled to the festival.
Festival Artist – Heidi Miikki (FI)
During the festival, circus artist Heidi Miikki takes over the village of Kaukonen and its diverse environments.
Ada Forsberg (Arctic Ensemble), Anselmi Kaisanlahti (Arctic Ensemble), Armas Lintusaari (Arctic Ensemble), David Hermon & Pauline (Inertium), Eeti Nieminen (Arctic Ensemble), Eino Kaisanlahti (Arctic Ensemble), Emilia Lajunen, Emmi Peltola (Arctic Ensemble), Esko Grundström (Sound Tagine), Guilhem Lacroux (Inertium), Isabelle Deproid (Inertium), Hanna Pakkala (Me olemme kiviä), Hanna Parviainen (Black Angels), Heidi Miikki (Festivaalitaiteilija), Ilkka Arola (Sound Tagine), Inka Pyykkönen (Arctic Ensemble), Jani Nuutinen (Inertium), Joel Kontturi (Arctic Ensemble), Jussi Launonen (Black Angels), Juuso Hannukainen (Sound Tagine), Kauri Klemelä (Arctic Ensemble), Lauri Angervo (Black Angels), Linda Suolahti (Me olemme kiviä), Linnea Purontaus (Arctic Ensemble), Lisa Robertson (Me olemme kiviä), Marianne Sihvonen (Me olemme kiviä), Marie Schreer, Mattia Bassi (ITE EEROLA +), Minna Pulsa (Arctic Ensemble), Noémie Deumié (Me olemme kiviä), Orfeo Llewellyn (Arctic Ensemble), Pihla Ojala (Arctic Ensemble), Reetta Eerola (ITE EEROLA +), Sirja Nironen (Me olemme kiviä), Topi Korhonen (Sound Tagine), Vilma Jää (Rivien välissä), Zaza Kuik (Rivien välissä)
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