New Event Accelerator to drive growth of events in Kuopio
Applications open 12 October to 15 November 2026
The City of Kuopio is launching a new Event Accelerator as a pilot programme for 2027. Designed for events seeking growth and renewal, the programme combines financial support with tailored expert guidance and coaching.
The aim of the Event Accelerator is to help event organisers increase the impact and profitability of their events while reaching new audiences. At the same time, the programme seeks to strengthen Kuopio’s attractiveness as an event destination and increase the tourism and international demand generated by events. The programme forms part of the city’s broader event support framework.
During the pilot phase, 1–5 event organisers will be selected to participate in a structured development programme. Depending on the needs of the event, the development period may span one to three years.
“Our goal is to provide event organisers with more targeted support and expert knowledge, enabling events to take the next step in their development,” says Kari-Pekka Seppänen, Event Production Manager at Business Kuopio.
“We want to create an even more transparent and efficient way to support event organisers in Kuopio. Through the Event Accelerator, we can identify promising event concepts at an early stage. Based on the experiences gained from the pilot, our objective is to establish a permanent operating model that strengthens both the event offering and the attractiveness of Kuopio as an event city,” says Anu Häiväläinen, Business Services Manager at Business Kuopio.
Who is the event accelerator for?
The Event Accelerator is intended for public events organised in Kuopio by a company, association, cooperative or other legal entity. The programme is particularly suitable for events that aim for growth, renewal, new target audiences, or greater national and international visibility.
Selected events may receive development funding as well as tailored expert support in areas such as marketing, sales, partnerships, event production, financial planning and visitor experience development.
Applications open 12 October to 15 November 2026
Applications for the Event Accelerator are open from 12 October to 15 November 2026.
Applicants are asked to describe the current status of their event and provide a 1–3 year development plan outlining objectives, actions, timelines, costs and expected impacts.
Applications will be evaluated according to the city’s event support assessment criteria. Particular emphasis will be placed on the event’s growth potential, the quality and feasibility of the development plan, and the event’s regional economic, tourism-related and image-building impacts.
Applications must be submitted as a PDF by email to tapahtumat@kuopio.fi with the subject line: “Event Accelerator 2027 – [Event Name]”
Detailed application instructions are available on the Event Accelerator webpage. (in Finnish)
Towards a permanent development model
The Event Accelerator is being implemented for the first time as a pilot programme. During the pilot phase, experiences will be gathered, the programme’s impact will be assessed, and the process will be further developed in collaboration with event organisers.
The long-term goal is to establish a sustainable operating model in Kuopio that supports the growth and renewal of events while strengthening the city’s position as an attractive event destination at both national and international levels.
“The Event Accelerator is the first step towards a broader event development model. In addition to this pilot, we will launch a Youth Event Accelerator later this year to encourage young event organisers to develop their ideas and strengthen their skills,” says Seppänen.
Like the Event Accelerator, the youth-focused programme will combine financial support with mentoring and development coaching. The Youth Event Accelerator will be implemented in cooperation between Business Kuopio and the City of Kuopio’s Youth Services.
Further Information
Email: tapahtumat@kuopio.fi
More information about event support: Event Support Grants
More information about the Event Accelerator (in Finnish)
