Finland is offering 16 international singles an all-expenses-paid trip in February 2027, featuring blind dates, sightseeing and food experiences.
The initiative, called Finnish Dinner Date, is organised by Visit Finland, the country’s tourism board, to promote Finnish cuisine and attract international visitors.
The selected participants will travel to either Helsinki or Tampere between February 9 and 19, 2027. Eight winners will be assigned to each city for a four-day programme of cultural and culinary activities.
The experience will include outdoor activities, sauna visits, sightseeing and group dinners with local Finnish singles. Its main attraction will be a special dinner where each group of eight international visitors will meet two Finnish singles.
Leading chefs will prepare tasting menus for the events. In Helsinki, the meal will be created by Adele Kinnunen, head chef at Café Savoy and a former contestant on Finland’s MasterChef Professionals. In Tampere, Henry Tikkanen, the restaurateur behind Gösta and a representative of Finland at the international Bocuse d’Or competition, will develop the menu.
Visit Finland will pay for the winners’ return flights, private-room accommodation, meals and scheduled activities. However, participants cannot choose their preferred city, as the organisers will assign them to Helsinki or Tampere.
Although the campaign promotes blind dating, it does not offer formal matchmaking or guarantee romantic relationships. Instead, it aims to connect visitors with local singles through food and shared experiences.
The idea came from a Finnish supermarket trend known as sinkkukori, meaning single basket. Shoppers use pink baskets at selected stores to show that they are single and open to meeting people. The trend gained attention on social media and inspired the tourism campaign.
Heli Jimenez, senior director of international marketing at Business Finland, said the programme would introduce visitors to the country’s food culture.
“Food brings Finns together, and now we are inviting travellers to join us in a truly one-of-a-kind way,” she said in an October 20 announcement.
How to apply for Finland’s free trip
Applications are open to single people aged 18 and above worldwide, except Finnish citizens and residents.
Applicants must record a video in English answering the question: “What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?”
They must then post the video on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube using #FinnishDinnerDate and tag Visit Finland’s official account. The accounts are @ourfinland on Instagram, @visitfinland.com on TikTok and @VisitFinland on YouTube.
Instagram and TikTok entries must be public, while YouTube applicants may upload unlisted videos. Applicants must also complete the official online form and include a link to their video.
Judges will assess entries based on creativity, authenticity and personal responses. Visit Finland also wants participants from different countries, age groups and backgrounds. Applicants must use original footage and audio featuring themselves.
Applications close on November 10, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. Finnish time. The 16 successful applicants will be contacted individually, while the winners will be announced on December 1 through Visit Finland’s Instagram and TikTok accounts.
Selected participants must confirm their places within 48 hours of the announcement. Otherwise, organisers may offer the places to other applicants.
