Kainuu Orienteering Week 2026 – Orienteer Top-Tier Terrain and World-Class Maps While Enjoying a Relaxing Summer Holiday
Next summer, the Kainuu Orienteering Week will be held in the Säynäjä area of Suomussalmi, where no orienteering map has been made before. The competition centre will be built on the well-grounded gravel extraction areas of Ruunasärkkä, with parking areas and services located right next to it. The competition terrain has been mapped by experienced cartographers Jussi Silvennoinen, Teemu Köngäs and Joni Korhonen.
The Säynäjä terrain offers enjoyable orienteering for participants of all levels: steep ridges, rolling hills and wide pine heaths, varying from open conifer forests to detailed terrain.
– The depression area of Ruunasärkkä is small but tough, surrounded by the natural mires of Säynäjäsuo and old pine-covered islands, says cartographer Jussi Silvennoinen. The slopes of Louhenvaara and Väärävaara provide challenge for longer courses, while the ridge formations of Leinosaho and Viitavaara and the twists of Hullupuro bring speed and technical spice. The terrain is mostly fast and firm underfoot. There are hardly any thickets or poor-ground areas in the competition terrain.
Open courses (recreational orienteering) – increasingly popular at Kainuu Orienteering Week
Although Kainuu Orienteering Week is known for its competition classes, open courses has grown to nearly the same number of participants.
– Recreational orienteering in our open courses is popular because there is a suitable challenge for everyone, says Kainuu Orienteering Week Secretary General Jukka Liuha. Whether it’s the youngest children, beginners, experienced local event runners or elite orienteers, everyone can enjoy orienteering at their own pace without competitive pressure.
Available options include:
- Rastiralli – a taped adventure course for the youngest children, with fun tasks at the controls
- Open-RR (formerly Family-RR) – a taped route, with opportunities for more skilled runners to take shortcuts
- C-courses – using clear features; suitable for beginners
- B-courses – a good level of challenge for fitness orienteers and experienced recreational runners
- A-courses – demanding routes for experienced, competitive and elite orienteers
The open courses orienteering week follows the same structure as the competitive classes: four stages with two rest days.
– The popularity of the open orienteering shows that Kainuu Orienteering Week is not only a stage for competition categories, Liuha adds. KOW is an event for the whole family and for orienteers of all levels.
Competition classes – speed and precise navigation
The competition categories cover all ages and skill levels:
- Elite classes: H/D16–21E, with a chasing start in the final stage
- Adult, youth and children’s classes: H/D8–95
- Children’s and youth RR/TR classes: H/D8RR, H/D9RR, H/D10RR, H/D12TR
– The children’s classes are designed to be safe but also educational, says course setter Joni Korhonen. The taped route guides the way from control to control, but the youngest participants still get to make simple route choices and practise orienteering skills.
The best athletes in the elite classes will be awarded top prizes: in H/D21E categories the total prize money is €9,000, distributed as follows: 1st €2,500, 2nd €1,250, 3rd €750.
Competition centre – a village of services in the middle of the wilderness
The competition centre is a lively gathering place in the middle of the forest, with thousands of orienteers and spectators present every day.
– The public is welcome to experience the atmosphere, follow the performances of top orienteers or enjoy the diverse food services of the competition centre, encourages Event Director Jari Anttonen.
There is plenty on offer: a lunch restaurant, grill, soup station, sweets from the café, pancakes from the pancake stand, refreshing soft ice cream for hot summer days, and the legendary one-metre liquorice from the KOW shop’s candy stand. Sports and orienteering equipment vendors are also present. The KOW shop sells local small business products and KOW souvenirs. There is also a children’s daycare service and the Rastiralli adventure course for the youngest participants. After orienteering, competitors can refresh themselves in the shower and washing facilities.
The competition centre is easy to reach: parking areas for cars are 200–600 m away, and the competition bus from Suomussalmi stops right in the heart of the competition centre.
– Next summer, we will introduce a new super-affordable family bus pass for the event week, priced at just €40, Anttonen explains. For that price, a family of two adults and 2–3 children can travel all week on our event bus, Anttonen adds.
Kainuu Orienteering Week 2026 is not just an orienteering event, but a relaxing summer holiday week that combines orienteering, outdoor activities, beautiful scenery, cultural experiences and time together.
Welcome to the ruggedly beautiful heartland of Kainuu, where the forest challenges and the landscape rewards!
Registration is open – the first and cheapest entry tier closes on 30 November!
