Can you name a Finnish dish? If you’re stumped, you’re not alone, and Finland knows it. To fix that, Finland is turning its food into a contest: the Finnish Dinner Date, a blind group date open to singles from around the world. Sixteen winners get an all-expenses-paid, four-day trip to Finland in February 2027, with a tasting menu at the center of it.
Finland has been called the world’s happiest country, and the campaign pitches the trip as your chance to try what it calls Europe’s last undiscovered cuisine. You might also make a connection or two. The tourism board is even telling you to skip the dating apps for a week!
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is based on details published by VisitFinland and the official Finnish Dinner Date campaign page as of November 3, 2026. We are not affiliated with VisitFinland or the organizers. Eligibility rules, dates, and terms may change, and submitting an entry does not guarantee selection. Please check the official terms and conditions before you apply.
Where the menus come from
The dinners are part of VisitFinland’s “Have Some Finnish” campaign. Earlier this year, the board asked people across Finland which dishes best represent the country and its regions. It then had some of the country’s best-known chefs turn those picks into four official national tasting menus.
Two of the menus were served to a group of travelers in September. The other two, from the Helsinki region and Lakeland, will be served at the Dinner Date events you’d be applying for.
Each tasting is meant to be more than a meal. It’s described as a trip through the region’s flavors, traditions, sights, and sounds.
What you’d get if you’re picked
Each of the two dinners seats eight selected travelers, which makes 16 winners in total. Two local Finnish singles join each dinner, so you’d be sharing the table with fellow visitors and with people who actually live there.
One dinner takes place in Helsinki, the seaside capital. The other is in Tampere, a lively city on the western edge of Lakeland.
Your all-expenses-paid trip lasts four days and falls between 9 and 19 February 2027. It includes a hosted program of activities and meals before the group dinner.
You won’t get to choose your city. The destination is revealed after you’re selected, which VisitFinland calls your first “surprise match.”
If you’re curious which one suits you better, the campaign site has a short quiz. Its first question asks what you’d eat first after landing: creamy salmon soup, fried vendace, black sausage with lingonberry jam, or a warm sugar doughnut.
How to apply
Your entry comes down to one question: “What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?”
- Record a video in English answering the question.
- Post it on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube with #FinnishDinnerDate, and tag the organizers: @ourfinland on Instagram, @visitfinland.com on TikTok, or @VisitFinland on YouTube.
- Submit the application form on the VisitFinland website, including the link to your video.
If you post on Instagram or TikTok, your account must be public so the organizers can watch your entry. If you’d rather stay low-key, upload your video to YouTube as Unlisted. Only people with the link can see it, and you can still submit that link.
You need both the video and the form. An entry missing either one won’t be considered.
Deadline and when you’ll hear back
Your application must be in by Tuesday, 10 November 2026, at 11:59 a.m. Finnish time (UTC+2), which is 5:59 p.m. in the Philippines on the same day. Late entries won’t be considered.
If you’re chosen, the organizers will contact you personally. The public announcement comes on 1 December 2026 on VisitFinland’s Instagram and TikTok accounts. You won’t get a confirmation email after you submit, so screenshot your entry to keep a record.
Before you apply
The campaign site has a long FAQ covering age limits, how participants are verified as single, applying with a friend, accessibility, dietary needs, and what happens if a winner can’t make it. Read it, along with the full terms and conditions, before you commit. Check your passport and visa situation too.
When you’re ready, apply through the VisitFinland application page or FinnishDinnerDate.com. With about a week left, you still have time to film your answer.
