IISI Wine & Music Festival

A two-day festival on Vallisaari fortress island: dozens of producers pouring more than 100 wines from across Europe, food from three kitchens, live music into the night. Held in the repurposed military structures and terraces of the island. Pay-per-wine format lets you explore at your own pace. The 2025 edition coincided with the Helsinki Biennial, blending wine culture with international contemporary art on this car-free island 20 minutes from the city.

What to do there

5 things to do

1. 1 Take the morning ferry to Vallisaari Adventure · Price: moderate

   The ferry fills with wine lovers, artists, and music fans — the festival energy starts on the water.

   Board the HSL waterbus from Kauppatori (Market Square). Ferries run every 30 minutes on festival day starting from 10:00. Round-trip EUR 13.90. Arrive early — the island fills up and atmosphere builds through the day. Festival entry ticket must be pre-purchased at iisivallisaari.fi/tapahtumat.

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2. 2 Taste your way through 100+ wines Wine · Price: moderate

   Taste wines inside converted bunkers, on fortress terraces, and among contemporary art installations.

   The festival uses a pay-per-taste format — buy tasting tokens at the entrance or wine stations. 100+ wines from producers across Europe, served at stations throughout the island's repurposed military structures. Each pour comes with a brief card about the wine and producer. Pace yourself — this is a marathon, not a sprint. Start with whites and bubbles, work toward reds.

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3. 3 Catch live music between the fortress walls Adventure · Free

   Live music echoing off 19th-century fortress walls, wine glass in hand, Baltic Sea as the backdrop.

   Multiple stages are set up around the island — between gun emplacements, in clearings, on terraces. Acts range from acoustic sets to DJ performances as the day progresses. No schedule stress — wander between stages and stumble on performances. The natural amphitheatre acoustics of the fortress walls are remarkable.

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4. 4 Explore the contemporary art installations History · Free · Optional

   Contemporary art in decommissioned military bunkers and overgrown fortifications.

   Wander the island's nature trails and military ruins to find art installations placed throughout. The festival often coincides with or connects to the Helsinki Biennial, so international artists may have works on the island. The contrast of contemporary art against crumbling military architecture is uniquely Vallisaari.

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5. 5 Bid at the wine auction Wine · Price: high · Optional

   Rare bottles going under the hammer on a fortress island — where else does this happen?

   The festival features a wine auction in the afternoon — rare bottles, large formats, and special lots. Even if you don't bid, watching the auction is entertainment. Located at the main festival stage. Check the festival program for auction timing, typically around 15:00-16:00.

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