Helsinki Drag Maraton 2026: Finland’s Biggest Drag Show Takes Over Pride Month in Helsinki
The Drag Olympics We Actually Want to Watch: Helsinki Drag Maraton Takes Over Pride
QUEERLAND MEDIA proudly joins as Official Media Partner.
HELSINKI, FINLAND — If anyone is still wondering whether Finland has a drag scene, Diivavälitys is ready to answer that question loudly, proudly, and with six uninterrupted hours of drag excellence.
On June 25, Helsinki Drag Maraton will transform Lasipalatsi Square into the biggest open-air drag celebration Finland has ever seen. The free, all-ages event is expected to attract thousands of visitors and will feature more than 30 local drag performers representing the incredible diversity of Finland’s drag community.
Produced by Diivavälitys, Finland’s first drag talent agency, in collaboration with Lasipalatsikortteli and HEBE Productions, the event draws inspiration from internationally acclaimed drag festivals such as New York’s legendary Bushwig, while proudly showcasing a distinctly Finnish and Nordic drag identity.
At the center of it all will be Slaya Bit, the drag alter ego of Diivavälitys founder and CEO Jonas Kuusisto, guiding audiences through a six-hour marathon packed with drag kings, drag queens, drag creatures, and enough charisma to power the entire city.
Slaya Bit the drag Picture by ©Meri Luukkanen
Among the performers taking the stage are Illuminatrix, Roseta La León, Penislow Pallinowski, Mealworm, Ellu Jallu Koskenkorva, Kelly Babah, and more than two dozen additional artists who continue to push the boundaries of creativity, performance, and queer expression in Finland.
“I’ve long dreamed of an event that would showcase Finland’s diverse drag scene while making it accessible to new and curious audiences. It’s fantastic that Lasipalatsikortteli got on board with the idea and is making the event free and open to all ages,”
IIluminatrix Drag Artist - Picture by ©Kenana Alic
Drag King Whipher Snipher - Picture by ©Gee Gee Van De Slayby
The event is divided into six themed one-hour segments, each developed in collaboration with LGBTQ+ organizations that have helped shape Finland’s queer cultural landscape.
The themes: Sateenkaariperheetry with the theme “Birth”
Sateenkaariseniorit ry with the theme “Out of the Closet, Here’s the Result”
RegnbågsalliansSvenskfinlandrf with the theme “Unity”
B-galleria with the theme “Art as a Tool for Societal Impact”
Mansedrag ry with the theme “Television”
Diivavälitys with the theme “Party”
Each participating artist has created a performance inspired by one of these themes, resulting in a showcase that is equal parts celebration, storytelling, activism, art, and community.
According to Kuusisto, visibility remains one of the event’s driving forces.
Ellu Jallu Koskenkorva by ©J Koskiranta
“People often ask where they can experience drag in Finland. Helsinki Drag Maraton is one answer—and I’m confident everyone will discover a performer who inspires, surprises, or speaks to them.”
Helsinki Drag Maraton forms part of Diiva Pride Week, a series of events organized by Diivavälitys during Helsinki Pride celebrations.
Additional events include DiivaErkkeri at KokoTeatteri on June 23, Hapan Bingo at Olarin Panimo on June 24, and the highly anticipated Your Disco Needs You Pride Party at Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo on June 27.
This year, Queerland Media proudly joins Diiva Pride Week as an Official Media Partner, helping amplify the voices, talent, and stories that continue to shape Finland’s growing LGBTQ+ cultural landscape.
Because Pride is many things—but above all, it’s community. And for one unforgettable day in June, that community will gather in the middle of Helsinki to celebrate drag in all its glorious forms.
“Drag belongs everywhere—not just inside clubs after midnight. Bringing this event into the center of Helsinki and making it free and open to all ages feels incredibly meaningful. Whether you’re a lifelong drag fan or seeing drag for the very first time, there’s something here for you.”
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