Finland is offering 16 international singles an all-expenses-paid trip featuring local food, travel and the opportunity to find romance, providing an alternative to the increasingly popular world of dating apps.
The initiative, called Finnish Dinner Date, is part of Visit Finland’s Have Some Finnish campaign, which aims to introduce international travellers to the country’s lesser-known food culture.
In February 2027, selected participants will travel to either Helsinki or Tampere for a four-day culinary experience, culminating in a group blind date featuring one of Finland’s official tasting menus.
Eight participants will be selected for each destination, bringing the total number of winners to 16.
Each group will eventually share dinner with two local Finnish singles, although the organisers are not promising that the experience will lead to romance.
Instead, the campaign also aims to encourage participants to develop an appreciation for Finnish cuisine and the country itself.
“Finnish food is a direct expression of our famously happy way of life: a way of connecting to place, to season, and to the people around you,” said Heli Jimenez, senior director of international marketing at Business Finland.
“Food brings Finns together, and now we are inviting travellers to join us in a truly one-of-a-kind way.”
Four-day culinary experience in Helsinki or Tampere
The trips will take place between February 9 and 19, 2027.
Participants will only discover whether they have been assigned to Helsinki or Tampere after being selected, making the destination the first surprise of the experience.
Besides the blind date dinner, the programme includes a hosted itinerary featuring various activities and meals over four days.
The initiative was partly inspired by a Finnish shopping trend known as the sinkkukori, or ‘single basket’.
Some supermarkets in Finland offer pink shopping baskets that customers can carry to discreetly signal that they are single and open to meeting someone.
Following the idea’s popularity online, Visit Finland decided to incorporate a similar concept into its food campaign.
How to apply for the free trip
Those interested must produce a video answering the question, ‘What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?’
The video must be posted on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube with the campaign hashtag before applicants complete an online application.
Applications close on November 10, 2026, at 11.59am Finnish time.
The selected participants are expected to be announced on December 1, 2026.
Finland has been ranked the world’s happiest country for nine consecutive years, giving the initiative an additional attraction for those interested in experiencing its lifestyle and food culture.
Even if the trip does not lead to romance, participants will still get to enjoy a complimentary culinary holiday in Finland.
