58th Kainuu Orienteering Week 2026 gathered over 22,000 visitors in Suomussalmi''s Säynäjä and Kainuu
Published: 09.07.2026
58th Kainuu Orienteering Week 2026 gathered over 22,000 visitors in Suomussalmi's Säynäjä and Kainuu
A warm thank you to everyone involved!
We would like to cordially thank all participants, volunteers, landowners, partners, and other stakeholders who took part in organizing this major Kainuu orienteering event for the 58th time!
The weather favored us this year almost throughout the entire week, and the atmosphere in the terrains of Säynäjä and the cozy competition center was familiarly relaxed. The event week gathered more than 4,500 unique individuals to Suomussalmi and Kainuu, and the cumulative number of visitors for the whole week reached over 22,000. During the week, an impressive total of 8,793 sports performances were completed!
Below are the detailed numbers of participants and performances by sport.
Kainuu Orienteering Week participant numbers 28 June – 3 July 2026
Participants:
- Competition categories: 1,208 unique individuals
- Open courses (recreational): 850 unique individuals
- Total orienteers: 2,058 unique individuals
- Spectators and team officials: 1,000 unique individuals
- Total amount: 3,058 unique individuals
Orienteering performances:
- Competition categories: 4,832 performances
- Open courses: 2,157 performances
- Total: 6,989 performances
Additional performances in side events:
- Rastiralli Adventure Track (4 stages): 119 performances
- Rest day sprint orienteering 29 June: 116 performances
- Rest day sprint courses 1 July: 87 performances
Cumulative number of visitors (6 days x 3,058 people): 18,348 visitors
Kainuu Mountain Bike Orienteering Week (MTBO) 28 June – 3 July 2026
Participants:
- Competition categories: 241 unique individuals (new participant record!)
- Open courses: 50 unique individuals
- Total MTB orienteers: 291 unique individuals
- Spectators and team officials: 150 unique individuals
- Total amount: 441 unique individuals
MTBO performances:
- Competition categories: 816 performances (new record!)
- Open courses: 110 performances
- Total: 916 performances
Cumulative number of visitors (6 days x 441 people): 2,646 visitors
Kainuu Trail trail running event 27 June 2026
- Registered runners: 684 unique individuals (new participant record!)
- Runners who finished: 566 unique individuals (new participant record!)
- Spectators and team officials: 350 unique individuals
- Total amount: 1,034 unique individuals
SUMMARY: The entire Kainuu Orienteering Week event week 27 June – 3 July 2026
- Total participants: 3,033 unique individuals
- Spectators and team officials: 1,500 unique individuals
- Total amount: 4,533 unique individuals
Total sports performances: 8,793 performances (Orienteering week, Rastiralli, rest day orienteering, MTB orienteering, and trail running)
Cumulative number of visitors (7 days): 22,028 visitors
Looking ahead to 2027!
The next, 59th Kainuu Orienteering Week will be held in the magnificent ridge terrains of Puolanka's Paljakka from 4 to 9 July 2027.
During the same week, the 7th Kainuu MTB Orienteering Week will also be cycled from 4 to 9 July 2027 in Puolanka and the excellent MTB terrains of Upper Kainuu.
The 7th Kainuu Trail trail running event will take place in its traditional slot on Saturday, 3 July 2027, on the stunning trails of Hossa National Park.
Welcome to join us and enjoy an active week of sports and vacation again next year!
P.S. Please remember to give your feedback on this year's event! Among all those who answer by 9 August 2026, we will raffle off prizes including free entries to next year's Kainuu Orienteering Week. Read more and fill in the feedback survey here!
