THE AURA RIVER RESONATES DURING THE NIGHT OF THE ARTS – A GRAND CHOIR CELEBRATION FILLS THE RIVERSIDE WITH MUSIC

During the Night of the Arts in Turku on Thursday, 13 August 2026, the Aura River will transform into a unique concert stage as the new event Aurajoki soi brings together choirs from the Turku region and audiences for a shared celebration of choral music. The free event will take place around the Library Bridge and the banks of the Aura River as part of the Turku Music Festival programme.

Aurajoki soi is a new event concept combining Turku Music Festival’s Joki soi initiative with Sulasol’s long-standing Aurajoella raikaa tradition into one large-scale choir celebration. The event is organised as part of the Turku Music Festival, taking place from 1–21 August 2026, in collaboration with the Southwest Finland district of Sulasol.

The open and free event transforms the Aura River into a living, resonating stage where music, community, and urban space come together. The Aura River Resonates is supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

“The founding story of the Finnish Cultural Foundation carries a beautiful idea of civil society: people donating to support art and culture. The Aura River Resonates reminds us that art lives through reciprocity – it is born from people’s support and returns to the people. Echoing the traditional motto of the University of Turku, the event is a gift of free art to a free people. It is an open celebration where song fills the city’s shared spaces,” says Jussi Merikanto, CEO of Turku Music Festival.

The evening’s main programme takes place on the Library Bridge from 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM. The bridge serves as the event’s central performance stage, featuring both the choirs’ own performances and collaborative pieces. Participating ensembles include the YL Male Voice Choir, Laulun Ystävät, Auralia and Chorus Iucundus. Throughout the evening, the audience will also have the opportunity to take part in community singing.

The event will be hosted by Pasi Hyökki, Artistic Director of the YL Male Voice Choir, together with Nikke Isomöttönen, Artistic Director of Laulun Ystävät.

“It is wonderful to bring choral singing into the heart of the city during the Night of the Arts. Singing is one of the most communal forms of art, and it is easy for everyone to take part. We want to invite people of all ages to experience the joy of singing together, whether as performers or listeners,” says Isomöttönen.

After the main concert, the programme continues on the Library Bridge every hour from 8:00 PM to 11:15 PM with short choir performances. As dusk falls, the Aura River and the Library Bridge will be illuminated as part of the event experience. At the same time, the choirs will spread across the city for the traditional Aurajoella raikaa restaurant walk, beginning at 8:00 PM.

The YL Male Voice Choir will continue from the Library Bridge to Martin’s Church, where the choir’s concert Farewell, Friends will be performed at 9:00 PM as part of the Turku Music Festival programme. Tickets are required for the concert.

The Night of the Arts programme begins already in the afternoon at the Market Square, where the choirs will hold an open rehearsal. These pre-events allow audiences to follow the choirs’ preparations and tune into the atmosphere of the Night of the Arts.

The event is produced by Turku Music Festival and the Southwest Finland District of Sulasol. Lighting and sound design for the event is provided by Creative Technology.

Free admission to the event.

5:00–6:00 PM Open choir rehearsal at the Market Square (pre-event)
7:00–7:45 PM Main concert on the Library Bridge
8:00–11:15 PM Choir encore performances on the Library Bridge
From 8:00 PM Aurajoella raikaa restaurant walk

Heli Koskinen
Head of Sales and Marketing, Turku Music Festival
heli.koskinen@tmj.fi
+358 (0)40 820 3205