SOHJO Business Event Program - Business Joensuu

Browse the SOHJO program by day, stage, or event area. SOHJO side events are also included - with more details available on Side Events.

The program is being updated and finalized during February.

SOHJO 2026 Program

SOHJO Day 1

  • 15:00
    SOHJO Day 1 Start & Opening Words by Business Joensuu Oy
    • Susicorn Stage
    • Tomi Haring, CEO of Business Joensuu
  • 15:30
    Keynote
    Irene Viinikkala: Beyond Creativity: How to Turn Tech, Chaos & Strategy into Growth
    • Susicorn Stage
    • Irene Viinikkala
    • Irene opens the festival with a keynote that sets the tone for two days of bold thinking. Irene’s Keynote Beyond Creativity: How to Turn Tech, Chaos & Strategy into Growth will explore how startups can harness both technology and creativity to build luminous futures — and why this fusion is no longer optional but essential. More info...
  • 16:00
    Keynote
    Kari Kola: Lighting the Sound: Creative Power, Global Stage - Streaming from Australia
    • Susicorn Stage / Teams
    • Kari Kola
    • Kola will deliver an exclusive keynote online from Australia, where he has just premiered Lighting the Sound — the world’s largest light installation, stretching across the dramatic coastal landscape of Western Australia. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process, scale, and vision behind a globally significant art project. More info...
  • 16:30
    Keynote
    Ina Mikkola: Glitter, Guts and Growth: What I’ve Learned in the Spotlight
    • Susicorn Stage
    • Ina Mikkola
    • In her keynote “Glitter, Guts and Growth: What I’ve Learned in the Spotlight”, Ina reflects on visibility, vulnerability, and personal power — and how creative courage builds both careers and culture. Her talk invites audiences to rethink what it means to shine in a noisy world, and how authenticity is the new superpower in both business and branding. More info...
  • 17:00
    To Be Announced
    • Susicorn Stage
  • 17:00
    To Be Announced
    • Luminous Stage
  • 17:30
    To Be Announced
    • Susicorn Stage
  • 18:00
    Erja Retzén: Ringing into the Future - Nasdaq Closing Bell Ceremony at SOHJO 2026
    • Susicorn Stage
    • Erja Retzén
    • At SOHJO, Erja will host a special Nasdaq Closing Bell Ceremony, an exclusive moment where the legendary exchange bell rings not in Helsinki — but right here in Joensuu.  During the Nasdaq Closing Bell Ceremony Erja also shares insights into the future of listings, why visibility still matters, and how startups from unexpected regions — like North Karelia — can find their way to the spotlight and the stock exchange. More info...
  • 18:00
    To Be Announced
    • Luminous Stage
  • 18:30
    To Be Announced
    • Susicorn Stage
  • 18:30
    To Be Announced
    • Luminous Stage
  • 19:00
    Keynote
    Sanna Rautio: East of Bold: Building Growth Stories from the Edge of Europe
    • Susicorn Stage
    • Sanna Rautio
    • In her keynote "East of Bold: Building Growth Stories from the Edge of Europe" Sanna shares insights from Eastern Finland’s most inspiring transformation stories, where courage, creativity and collaboration have replaced pessimism. A talk for anyone who believes that great ideas don’t come from the centre – they come from the edge. More info...
  • 20:00
    Closing words, networking and the Official SOHJO Afterparty by JOES @ Hub Joensuu
    • HUB Joensuu, Rantakatu 30, 80100 Joensuu

    • After the closing words, the Official SOHJO Afterparty by JOES will begin at HUB Joensuu, Rantakatu 30.

      You are also welcome to stay at the Kimmel venue to spend the evening and network.