Kymi Libri Book Fair

Finland’s most relaxed book fair is back, for the fourth time. The event has been embraced not only by fiction and non-fiction writers, but also by journalists and researchers who enjoy the lively culture of discussion. There is a little philosopher living in each of us, and Kymi Libri offers opportunities to reflect on life with experts. 

The fair concept also includes workshops where people write, perform poems and draw. A new feature on the program is Kymi’s Comic Book Day on Wednesday 23 July, hosted by Milla Paloniemi, the author of the comic book The Cursing Hedgehog.

On Thursday, the godfather of 2025, Yle Asia correspondent Mika Hentunen, will lead a panel discussion on the great power game together with foreign policy researchers. Africa expert Iina Soiri’s panel will focus on the global south.

The godfather of 2021, poet and football legend Atik Ismail, and the godfather of 2023, writer-journalist and musician Suonna Kononen, will also be present. The Finnish Writers’ Association is represented by Ville Hytönen. 

On Friday, Finnish writers will take to the stage to present their new releases. Experts invited by the Finnish Information Writers’ Association will discuss current themes, such as the state of nature and the environment. The topics of the day’s panels will be Finland’s security, relations with Russia and the situation on the eastern border.

On Saturday, the winners of the Hautausmaalla writing competition will be decided, and the Kouvola Crime Fiction Days, which have been held since 1997, will begin at noon – for the first time in Myllykoski. The star guest is Icelandic detective author Satu Rämö, and the winner of the writing competition “Sorry, I Didn’t Mean It” will be announced by head judge Kaisa Tammi. The program will end with a playful killing match “Let’s Kill the Detective Cross”. Each day of the fair will end with an hour of dancing in the style of wartime soirées.