In a bold strategy to highlight its culinary landscape, Finland’s national tourism board, Visit Finland, has launched a global campaign offering 16 international single adults an all-expenses-paid trip to the Nordic nation in February 2027. Titled the Finnish Dinner Date, the promotional initiative pairs lucky participants with local Finnish singles for a series of hosted group blind dinner dates designed around local ingredients and Nordic culinary traditions.
While viral social media reports fueled rumors that the Finnish government had begun a state-sponsored international matchmaking service, tourism officials quickly clarified the project’s primary focus. The initiative forms the second phase of Visit Finland’s broader “Have Some Finnish” food tourism program, funded in part by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to bring global attention to Finnish food, wild foraging traditions, and winter lifestyle.
The inspiration stems from a local supermarket trend known as sinkkukori, or “single baskets.” In select Finnish grocery stores, shoppers can carry pink handbaskets to signal to fellow patrons that they are open to starting a conversation or meeting someone new. After an international travel influencer featured the pink baskets online, the phenomenon captured global media attention, giving Visit Finland the inspiration to translate the concept into a full-scale culinary travel experience.
Selected winners will be divided into two separate cohorts of eight international travellers. Each group will fly to Finland for a four-day hosted itinerary scheduled between February 9 and February 19, 2027. One group will explore the urban coastal vibe and historic architecture of Helsinki, while the other will head to Tampere, widely recognized as the sauna capital of the world in the serene Finnish Lakeland region. To build anticipation, travelers will discover their exact urban destination only after their spots are confirmed.
The highlight of each trip is a multi-course tasting dinner at a secret location, where eight international guests will share a long-table meal alongside two local Finnish singles. The menus are crafted specifically to showcase regional ingredients—such as wild fish, game, foraged berries, and native mushrooms—created by prominent Finnish culinary talent. Head Chef Adele Kinnunen of Helsinki’s renowned Café Savoy will design the capital region’s tasting menu, while Chef Henry Tikkanen of Ravintola Gösta, a competitor in the prestigious Bocuse d’Or, will orchestrate the Lakeland menu. Beyond the dinner table, guests will take part in winter nature outings, traditional sauna sessions, and guided culinary walks.
Visit Finland covers all major travel expenditures for the selected participants, including round-trip international flights, private accommodations, all scheduled meals, local transport, and organized activities. Organizers emphasize that while genuine romance may blossom, the underlying purpose is cultural exchange and showcasing the unique flavors of the world’s happiest country.
To apply, interested candidates must be single adults aged 18 or older who reside outside of Finland. Applicants are required to create a short video in English answering the prompt: “What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?” After publishing the video publicly on TikTok or Instagram (or unlisted on YouTube) with the hashtag #FinnishDinnerDate and tagging official Visit Finland social handles, applicants must submit their video link on the campaign portal at FinnishDinnerDate.com. The global entry deadline is set for November 10, 2026, at 11:59 AM Finnish time (EET), with the official winner announcement scheduled for December 1, 2026.
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