Mikkeli Water Week will once again be held on June 8–14, 2026, bringing to Mikkeli people from around the world who are interested in the importance of clean water, future solutions, and water sector expertise. The event week is expanding significantly as for the first time, the program will be brought extensively into the city centre, and the international expert program is growing. During the week, researchers, decision-makers, entrepreneurs in the field, as well as locals and cottage owners will gather to discuss and be inspired by the diverse opportunities of water, the sustainable use of water resources, and international cooperation.
The event week, now being organized for the third time, is built on the strong expertise of the Blue Economy Mikkeli ecosystem, thanks to which Mikkeli is known nationally and internationally as the capital of clean water. At the core of Mikkeli’s water expertise are, among other things, a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant, a unique water technology testing environment, and the education and research opportunities offered by LUT University and South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk). All these elements make Mikkeli an internationally interesting hub for the water sector.
Mikkeli Water Week will begin on Monday, June 8, with an international invitation-only program. The city invites key influencers and decision-makers in the water sector from its own and its partners’ networks to discuss cooperation in solving water challenges. In addition to learning about Finnish water services, they will also experience our unique lake nature.
On Tuesday, June 9, an expert morning session (fully in English) of the Finnish Lakeland Forum will be held at the Mikkeli Music Institute, open to all who have registered in advance. The theme is harmful substances in water and international cooperation. This year, the aim is also to make the week more accessible to city residents, so on Tuesday afternoon the Finnish Lakeland Forum will move to the Stella shopping centre. At the shopping centre, there will be public lectures on topics such as leisure living, boating, and what everyone can do to promote clean waters. In addition, the Emma award-winning band Folk Saimaa will perform a free concert for city residents.
The Finnish Lakeland Forum brings together water sector actors to reflect on international cooperation, the vitality of lake regions, safeguarding aquatic biodiversity, and the responsible use of water resources. The event is based on the Finnish Lakeland Statement cooperation declaration signed in Mikkeli in 2019, which emphasizes the importance of clean waters and the shared responsibility for preserving them for future generations. The Finnish Lakeland Forum is organized by the City of Mikkeli and South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences.
At the same time as the public event at Stella, the expert program will continue at the Music Institute with another seminar (fully in English), “From Wastewater to Resource: Tackling PFAS and Microplastics”. The seminar focuses especially on the reuse of wastewater and the challenges of PFAS compounds and microplastics. At the event, experts will discuss regulation, monitoring, and practical solutions, as well as how municipalities and industry can sustainably utilize treated water. The seminar is organized in cooperation by the international Interreg Central Baltic–funded projects SIWat, Balt-Plast-Free, and BalticPFASResolve.
“This year, internationality is emphasized at Mikkeli Water Week. The problems related to clean water are shared, and so are their solutions. That is why it is important to bring together representatives from different countries and consider how combining expertise can help us move forward more quickly. Solutions often involve research and education, and almost always business. These also create vitality.” – Juha Kauppinen, BEM Coordinator
Mikkeli Water Week continues June 10–11 with the international Emerging Trends in Water Treatment (ETWT)conference organized by LUT University. At the Mikaeli Concert and Congress Hall, researchers and other experts in the field will discuss, among other things, new water treatment technologies, the removal of harmful substances, and circular economy solutions. The conference offers an opportunity to share the latest research knowledge, develop cooperation, and strengthen international networking in the water sector.
The programs for the seminars and conferences will be published later in the spring; advance registration is already open:
More program than ever for city residents: free concert by Emma award-winning Folk Saimaa, Water Market, guided tours, and the family Roiskefest
This year, Mikkeli Water Week offers even more program also for city residents, cottage owners, and tourists. On Tuesday, June 9, starting at 1 PM, the Stella shopping centre will host public lectures open to all, a panel discussion, and a free concert by the popular band Folk Saimaa. We will also surely hear songs from the band’s brand-new album at Stella, from the winner of the Song of the Year Emma award!
On Friday, June 12, the Water Market will be held at the Mikkeli market square. Here, everyone will have the opportunity to get to know consumer services offered by water sector companies, find tips for water supply issues for their own cottage, for example, and listen to interesting short talks about water.
The market square will also serve as a meeting point for bus transport to guided tours. This year, free tours will be organized for city residents to the Kovalansuo wetland and Mikkeli’s state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant. Registration for the tours will open in May. It is worth being quick, as places on these very popular tours are limited.
At the Water Market, local fish soup will be available for the first 200 people. In addition, at the Finnish Lakeland Forum in Stella and at the Water Market, visitors can spin a water-themed prize wheel, from which they can win practical water buckets.
The family water day Roiskefest will be held on Saturday, June 13, at the Urpola Nature Centre as the conclusion of the theme week. The whole family can set out on an adventure by the water at the Urpola Nature Centre and spend a memorable summer day at Roiskefest from 10 AM to 2 PM.
At the Roiskefest visitors can meet experts, carry out fun water technology experiments with Xamk, and explore the diverse offerings of the nature centre. The lively LOS PIRATOS pirate concert should not be missed, guaranteeing a good time for the whole family. Science workshops, SUP boards, canoes, cargo bikes, and rowing boats offer activities for all ages. Enjoying a picnic on the grass, admiring the star tent, and relaxing by a campfire – all this in the middle of the most beautiful summer nature.
What is Mikkeli Water Week?
Mikkeli Water Week creates a unique opportunity to delve into the significance of water from both a local and global perspective. The event week aims to strengthen a shared understanding of how diverse and interconnected water-related issues are, from environmental protection to the sustainable use of water resources.
The event week highlights Mikkeli’s strong role as a pioneer in water expertise and invites participants to discuss, learn, and build solutions together for future water challenges. More information and the program, which will be specified further in the spring, can be found on the event website at www.mikkeliwaterweek.fi.
Mikkeli Water Week is organized in cooperation by: the City of Mikkeli, Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd, LUT University, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, Mikkeli University Consortium (MUC), and Finnish Water Forum.
More information:
Juha Kauppinen, BEM Coordinator, juha.kauppinen@mikkeli.fi, +358 40 162 6894
