National Inventory of Living Heritage expands with 22 new elements
The Ministry of Education and Culture has added 22 new elements to Finland’s National Inventory of Living Heritage, based on a proposal by the Finnish Heritage Agency. With this update, the inventory now includes a total of 108 elements.
Finland identifies and documents its living heritage as part of implementing UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The National Inventory of Living Heritage brings together forms of intangible cultural heritage practised in Finland, including craft skills, festive events, performing arts, nature-related practices and food heritage. The inventory increases the visibility of living heritage and helps ensure its continued transmission.
The 2026 update introduces a diverse range of new elements from different areas of life. These include summer theatre traditions, making Karelian pies, tour skating on natural ice, traditional sauna practices, role-playing culture, Karelian Summer Festival, and the use and teaching of Braille.
Inventory updated based on applications
The National Inventory of Living Heritage is updated approximately every three years. The inventory is based on a proposal by the Finnish Heritage Agency and is supported by an expert group on intangible cultural heritage. Stakeholders across different fields also take part in assessing the proposals.
A total of 30 applications were submitted in the 2026 call. The Finnish Heritage Agency proposed that 22 of them be inscribed in the inventory. To be included, elements must form part of living heritage, increase understanding of cultural heritage, and be based on the active participation of communities.
UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
The objective of UNESCO’s Convention is to promote the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, ensure respect for the heritage of communities, groups and individuals, and raise awareness of its importance. The Convention emphasises transmission from generation to generation, cultural diversity, and people’s participation in cultural heritage.
The Convention includes the identification and listing of intangible cultural heritage at both national and international levels. Inventories are a tool for identifying, describing and sharing knowledge about living heritage. They can include both widely practised traditions and the cultural practices of smaller communities.
In Finland, the Finnish Heritage Agency is responsible for implementing the Convention.
National Inventory of Living Heritage
The National Inventory of Living Heritage brings together forms of intangible cultural heritage practised in Finland, such as craft skills, festivities, performing arts and nature-related practices. The inventory is part of Finland’s implementation of UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The 2026 update added 22 new elements to the inventory, bringing the total to 108.
Examples of elements added in 2026:
- Tour skating on natural ice – around 150,000 participants in Finland
- Karelian Summer Festival – about 10,000 participants each year
- Role-playing culture – tens of thousands of participants
- Relocation of log buildings – a traditional communal work practice
- Karelian pie tradition – a widely practised food tradition
- Karelian sarafan dress – a traditional Orthodox Karelian costume
- Celebrating hanami in Finland – a communal celebration centred on viewing cherry blossoms
- Indian Durga Puja celebrations in Finland – an important annual festival for the Bengali community
- Use and teaching of Braille – the basis of literacy for people with visual impairment
National Inventory of Living Heritage
Inquiries:
Mirva Mattila, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture, tel. +358 295 330 26
Leena Marsio, Coordinator of Intangible Heritage, the National Board of Antiquities, tel. +358 295 33 6017
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Wiki-inventory for Living Heritage