Bravo! Festival introduces international cultures in Espoo
This performing arts festival for children and young people in the Helsinki takes place during 14–22 March 2026. The festival brings a versatile programme all around Espoo, from Shopping Centre Ainoa in Tapiola to Children's Cultural Centre Aurora in Järvenperä as well as other cultural centres.
Theme: The Nordics and the Baltics
The Bravo! international performing arts festival for children and young people introduces performances at cultural centres and city facilities around the Helsinki Metropolitan Area during 14–22 March 2026. The 2026 festival focuses on the Nordics and the Baltics, with all of its performances, workshops and other programmes celebrating performing arts of the Nordic and Baltic countries for children and young people. This 13th Bravo! Festival is held in cooperation with Assitej Finland, an organisation that promotes performing arts for children and young people, as well as the municipalities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
There will be plenty to see and experiences for audiences of all ages, from toddler to teenager. The programme will include dance, parkour, circus and physical theatre. In addition to all the performances, the festival programme includes workshops for children and families, family-focused days, a resident artist, and programming for professionals as well. The performances of Assitej Finland have been compiled into a rich and diverse OFF programme.
Estonia, Sweden and Iceland send performers to Espoo
Johanna Kallioaho, production manager at Children's Cultural Centre Aurora, is excited about this year’s theme:
‘It’s great to receive the colourful performing arts programmes in Espoo. Children’s culture professionals traditionally create delightful performances at cultural centres. This time, we have also wanted to spread these experiences to other places with the communal Yarn takeOver event, which is bound to surprise passersby at Shopping Centre Ainoa.’
Festival opening day – Saturday, 14 March Shopping Centre AINOA sets the scene for Liisi Hint’s (EST) Yarn takeOver from 10 am to 2 pm. This is a communal non-stop workshop and installation, in which audiences of all ages get playfully invited to interact with the handicrafts and yarns. Bravo! Festival: Yarn takeOver (non-stop workshop & installation) (EST) | City of Espoo
On that same Saturday at 3 pm, Children's Cultural Centre Aurora features Aude Bosson's (ISL) participatory theatre performance Manndýr, which includes Finnish children’s opinions and thoughts about what it means to be a human. Bravo! Festival: Manndýr – Participatory Theatre (ISL) | City of Espoo
Helen Krinal’s (EST) gentle non-verbal dance performance Shapeshifter is for 6–18-month-old babies graces the Kupla event space in Tapiola on Monday, 16 March at 12:30 and 2 pm as well as Children's Cultural Centre Aurora on Tuesday, 17 March at 2 pm.
Bravo! Festival: Shapeshifter / Kujumuutja (Viro) | City of Espoo
Bravo! Festival: Shapeshifter / Kujumuutja (Viro) | City of Espoo
On Thursday, 19 March at 9:30 and 10:45 am, Vindängen Hall features Ama Kyei's (SWE) interactive dance performance Water Whisper, which draws inspiration from water scientist M. Emoto’s book “The Hidden Messages of Water.” Bravo! Festival: Ama Kyie: Water Whisper (SWE) | City of Espoo
At Sello Hall on Friday, 20 March at 6 pm, Kompani Giraff (SWE) presents their ingenious and humorous circus and magic show ABC – A Painter’s Alphabet, which encourages audiences to read. Bravo! Festival: Kompani Giraff (SWE): ABC - A Painters Alphabet | City of Espoo
On Sunday, 22 March, the closing day of the Festival, WeeGee features the Children’s Museum Festival and a performance of Ama Kyei's Water Whisper, among others. Children’s Museum Festival: Birthday Party! | City of Espoo
In Espoo, groups of day-care and school children visit the Bravo! Festival performances at Children's Cultural Centre Aurora, Vindängen Hall and Sello Hall.
Tickets: many Bravo performances through Lippupiste Event, theatre, concert and sports tickets | lippu.fi(external link, opens in a new window)
Tickets for performances at Vindängen Hall: Kultur våren 2026: Undersökningen genomförs via Webropol(external link, opens in a new window)
WeeGee Museum tickets include entrance to the Children’s Museum Festival; children get in for free. The event at Shopping Centre Ainoa is free of charge.
Read more at the festival website at www.bravofestivaali.fi(external link, opens in a new window)