Outsider Art Festival was celebrated in Helsinki and Espoo from August 14 to 24, 2025. While waiting for next year, you can take a look at a photo compilation of the festival events here. Below you can also read the festival team’s highlights from the wide-ranging program:
The OAF Opening, celebrated on the Night of the Arts together with Culture Centre Caisa, received glowing feedback for its wide-ranging program. This year’s festival visuals brightened the city more than ever thanks to Outshine and Welp Productions’ campaign.
Highlights in Helsinki included the OAF X Minna Records concert and the OAF X Runokuu Talks discussion, Homa Shokri & team’s sold-out Ashla: 00:00:01 performances, OAF’s & WSOY’s Poetry Stage at Tekstin talo, our international guests as well as the powerful exhibitions at Caisa and Pertti’s Choice.
A true highlight was Pertti’s Choice & All Day’s rap night at Louhisali – praised as one of the most joyful, high-energy gigs in years. Energy was also sky-high at the OAF X Espoo Ciné film opening, featuring shorts, performances and discussions, followed by EMMA’s important talk The Great Lie about Disability.
We also loved seeing the warm response to Satu & Maima Tani’s Breathing Reef and Other Lifeforms – from massive prints at metro stations to the Coral Dress and Jellyfish in Espoo Cultural Centre.
P.S. We would be extremely grateful if you could take a moment to fill out the festival audience survey here. It only takes about 10 minutes, and all respondents will be entered into a lottery to win a €100 gift card to Pertti’s Choice shop & gallery! With the gift card, you can purchase outsider art to take home. By responding, you directly contribute to the future of the festival and take part in shaping OAF 2026.
