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3.5.2026 | World Press Freedom Day is celebrated on 3 May. The day reminds us of the importance of free and independent media as the foundation for democracy, the rule of law and an open society. Finland promotes media freedom, which is fundamental to freedom of speech and expression, as part of its foreign and security policy.

12.11.2025 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will host the national children’s Independence Day celebration on Wednesday 3 December at the National Opera House in Helsinki. This year, two children born in 2015 from each municipality have been invited to attend.

22.8.2025 | Finland’s state leadership will attend events marking Ukraine’s independence day in Helsinki.

15.11.2024 | Independence Day is for everyone, both adults and children. This year, two children born in 2014 from each municipality have been invited to the National Opera House to celebrate 107 years of Finnish independence.

22.8.2024 | In honour of Ukrainian Independence Day on Saturday 24 August, the Government will fly the Ukrainian flag at Senate Square in front of the Government Palace and at Martti Ahtisaari Square in the courtyard of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building Merikasarmi, which will also be illuminated in blue and yellow in the evening.

27.11.2023 | Two children born in 2013 from each municipality of Finland have been invited to the Government Palace for the celebration. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will personally welcome each guest at the start of the event. Ministers Riikka Purra, Sari Multala and Sari Essayah will also be in attendance.

4.12.2023 | A total of 536 children from 266 municipalities took part in the children's Independence Day celebration at the Government Palace on 4 December. At the beginning of the celebration, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo shook hands with each guest and welcomed them personally to the event. The celebration was organised by the Prime Minister's Office, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children.

30.11.2022 | On 7 December, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will host an Independence Day celebration for over 560 children at the House of the Estates. Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko, Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson and Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo will also attend the event.

23.8.2023 | In honour of Ukrainian Independence Day on Thursday 24 August, the Government will fly the Ukrainian flag at Senate Square and at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building Merikasarmi, which will also be illuminated in blue and yellow in the evening.

History and buildings History of the Finnish Government The War of Finland in 1808-09 brought the transfer of Finland from Swedish rule to become an autonomous grand duchy of the Russian empire. In 1809 the new Grand Duchy of Finland received its ...

National Commemorative Years The national commemorative years organised by the Prime Minister’s Office are celebrated both in Finland and internationally. Commemorative years are held especially to mark milestone anniversaries of Finland’s indepen...

16.11.2022 | This year’s Independence Day festivities will culminate with a celebration for children, when Prime Minister Sanna Marin hosts the Children’s Independence Day party on 7 December at the House of the Estates. Hundreds of ten-year-olds from all over Finland – two from each municipality – have been invited to the event.

Decorations Organisations and enterprises in the administrative branch of the Prime Minister's Office may submit proposals to the Prime Minister's Office for decorations belonging to the orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland,...

Government Palace 1822–1918 House of the Senate 1918– Government Palace The Government Palace overlooking Senate Square is a national memorial and key monument of Finnish architecture and cultural and political history. The building has served as ...

3.12.2021 | The Government will organise a festive illumination at Merikasarmi on Finland’s 104th Independence Day. The refurbished and modernised Merikasarmi premises were taken back into use in September.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo visited Kyiv on 28 May 2025. Finland supports Ukraine On 24 February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in breach of the UN Charter and international law. Finland strongly condemns Russia’s military actions in...

6.12.2020 | Finnish missions abroad to celebrate Independence Day with virtual events Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 6.12.2020 8.30 Type: News item The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing changes to this year's Independence Day celebrations, both in ...

27.11.2019 | Hundreds of children all over Finland will soon be getting ready for the annual Independence Day party for Finnish children, to be hosted this year by Prime Minister Antti Rinne.

5.12.2025 | Finland’s national soundscape Ääniä has received recognition in a prestigious place-branding competition in London. The work, composed by Lauri Porra, was honoured in the Best Use of Design category assessing strategic country branding initiatives. The soundscape is published on music streaming platforms on 5 December 2025, just ahead of Finland’s Independence Day.

Data protection in the Prime Minister's Office Data Protection Officer Data Protection Officer Heidi Alajoki Prime Minister’s Office, Economy Unit [email protected] Controller Prime Minister’s Office, PO Box 23, 00023 Government Registry: [email p...