A memorable dinner date might begin with a favorite restaurant. Visit Finland is taking that idea a little further, inviting 16 international singles to travel to Finland for a winter escape built around food, local culture, and the possibility of a new connection.
The Finnish Dinner Date experiences will take place in Helsinki and Tampere in February 2027, with eight selected travelers joining each four-day trip. At the heart of the experience is a candlelit group dinner featuring one of Finland’s official regional tasting menus, shared with fellow visitors and local Finnish singles.
Applications close on November 10, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. Finnish time (EET), giving food-loving solo travelers a short window to put their names forward.
A Finnish Approach to Meeting Someone New
The campaign takes inspiration from sinkkukori, or “single basket,” a playful Finnish grocery-shopping phenomenon. Pink baskets allow shoppers to signal that they are single and open to meeting someone, turning an everyday errand into an opportunity for conversation.
Finnish Dinner Date brings that same spirit to the table. Each group of eight international guests will be joined by two local Finnish singles, with everyone dining together in a relaxed setting.
The destination itself will be part of the surprise. Selected participants will be assigned to either Helsinki or Tampere, with their dinner destination revealed when participation is confirmed. Each trip will take place within the February 9–19, 2027, travel window.
Romance may be part of the invitation, but the experience is also a chance to discover a country through the people who live there and the food they share.
Two Chefs, Two Regional Perspectives
The dinners build on Visit Finland’s Have Some Finnish campaign, which introduced official tasting menus in 2026 to showcase the country’s regional food traditions.
For the Helsinki region, the menu has been created by Adele Kinnunen, head chef at Café Savoy. Her background includes high-end restaurant kitchens and an appearance on Finland’s MasterChef Professionals.
The Lakeland menu, served during the Tampere experience, comes from Henry Tikkanen, the restaurateur behind Gösta. Tikkanen has represented Finland at the Bocuse d’Or and was named Finnish Chef of the Year in 2001.
Both menus are intended to tell a regional story. The wider four-day experiences bring together dining, local traditions, and the surrounding landscapes, placing the tasting dinner within a broader introduction to Finnish life.
Discovering Finland Through Its Food
Finland’s forests, lakes, and changing seasons have a strong influence on its kitchens. Fish, game, berries, mushrooms, and other locally sourced ingredients form the foundation of a food culture closely connected to place.
That relationship is central to this campaign. Food becomes a way to explore how Finns live, gather, and experience their surroundings, from foraging traditions to the social rituals associated with sauna.
For travelers whose ideal trip revolves around discovering unfamiliar flavors, the appeal extends beyond the dating element. Helsinki and Tampere offer two different settings for getting to know Finnish cuisine, with local chefs guiding the introduction.
How to Apply for the Finnish Dinner Date
The application begins with a question: “What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?”
Applicants need to complete two steps:
- Create a video in English. Introduce yourself and answer the question, then post the video on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. Include #FinnishDinnerDate and tag Visit Finland: @ourfinland on Instagram, @visitfinland.com on TikTok, or @VisitFinland on YouTube.
- Complete the official application form and include a link to the video.
Instagram and TikTok profiles must be public. Applicants who prefer an unlisted upload can use YouTube and submit the video link with their application.
The deadline is Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. EET, equivalent to 4:59 a.m. Eastern Standard Time or 1:59 a.m. Pacific Standard Time that day.
Selected participants will be contacted directly, with the public announcement scheduled for December 1, 2026, on Visit Finland’s Instagram and TikTok channels.
What Applicants Should Know
Applicants must be at least 18, live outside Finland, and be single when applying and participating. Applications are individual, with one entry per person; additional eligibility conditions apply.
Visit Finland covers the arranged travel, accommodation, and meals. Participants must arrange their own required travel documents and purchase suitable insurance, and they remain responsible for any applicable personal taxes.
This is also a tourism marketing campaign. Applicants should review the publicity and content-use provisions, which also apply to unlisted videos. The rules prohibit AI-generated application material.
Full details and eligibility requirements are available in the official campaign terms. For food lovers open to meeting new people, the invitation offers a distinctive way to experience a Finnish winter: around a shared table.
