HANCOCK -- Following Hancock's Juhannus Summer Solstice celebration last weekend, the City of Hancock received word of a historic international honor: Hancock has been designated the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture, becoming the first-ever community in the United States to receive this title.
Awarded annually by the Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture, this designation spotlights communities that actively preserve and promote Finno-Ugric cultures, languages and traditions. Past recipients include towns in Estonia, Hungary and Russia with deep Finno-Ugric Roots. Hancock’s selection recognizes its vibrant Finnish-American Heritage, long standing cultural traditions, and the city’s commitment to honoring its immigrant past through festivals, education and community spaces like the Finnish American Heritage Center.
According to Jesse Wiederhold, Public Relations/Events coordinator of Visit Keweenaw, the Capital of Culture designation for next year will bring an international spotlight to the city in 2026 -- with cultural exchanges, performances, lectures, and special events (like Juhannus and Heikinpäivä) expected to draw visitors and partners from across the Finno-Ugric world. The program aims to strengthen ties among indigenous and diaspora Finno-Ugric communities in the modern world and promote their values -- including sustainability, resilience, and cultural diversity.
During a press conference held in the Finnish American Heritage Center on June 25, 2025, Jim Kurtti, honorary consul of Finland, spoke about Hancock's application for the Capital of Culture designation and the importance of keeping Finno-Ugric culture alive.
During a June 25, 2025 press conference in the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, MI, Jim Kurtti, honorary consul of Finland, speaks about historical background for the recent designation of the City of Hancock as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture, a historic international honor. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Kurtti said the designation would offer the opportunity for learning -- to share experiences and events with Finno-Ugric people outside the U.S. who, like Finnish Americans here, are trying to maintain their cultural identity.
"We're going to be looking east and they're going to be looking west," he noted. "Because we've been doing this for 150 years -- keeping Finnish identity alive -- maybe we have something to share with them. And they certainly have a lot to share with us."
Kurtti mentioned plans to form a committee to direct events for the Capital of Culture year and welcomed ideas and suggestions from the public.* (See below for contact information.)
During the press conference, representing Community Development for the City of Hancock Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Todd Gast said, "We are just so excited about this honor of being named the Finno-Ugric Cultural Capital."
Gast mentioned the City of Hancock working with Visit Keweenaw on the Juhannus celebration last weekend and experiencing the excitement to cap off that celebration with this news of the Finno-Ugric Cultural Capital designation. He added the City will be asking the community to help with planning events and he believes residents will be excited to do so.
"It's going to shine quite an incredible bright light on this area," Gast said.
Mary Babcock, Hancock city manager and zoning administrator, spoke with Keweenaw Now about the City's role in the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture.
Inset photo: Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
Brad Barnett, Visit Keweenaw executive director, spoke at the press conference about the fact that this Cultural Capital designation is an opportunity -- not only for cultural preservation and tourism, but also for economic development, education, celebration and more.
During the June 25, 2025, press conference, Brad Barnett, Visit Keweenaw executive director, speaks about the importance of the recent designation of the City of Hancock as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture. (Video by Keweenaw Now)More views of Hancock's 2025 Juhannus celebration
Quincy Green in Hancock was the scene of several events for celebrating Juhannus, the Finnish summer solstice, on Saturday, June 21. Kids had opportunities to play lawn games, including the popular Finnish custom of a Hobby Horse Hoedown offered by Sew Cranky, a Hancock shop where visitors can make a colorful hobby horse with hand-cranked sewing machines.
Wife Carrying Race
During the June 21, 2025, Juhannus Finnish Summer Solstice celebration, a couple finishes the wife-carrying course, a Finnish tradition, in 17 seconds, one of the fastest in the race. The announcer is Todd VanDyke, KBear local radio station host. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Two young women compete in the Finnish wife-carrying contest. These two women are also energetic members of Michigan Tech's Swing Dance group. (Anyone could compete in the event -- not necessary to be a wife or husband.) (Video by Keweenaw Now)Among the fastest competitors are these two young men, also participating in the traditional wife-carrying event on Quincy Green in Hancock. (Video by Keweenaw Now)Finnish American Heritage Center
Throughout the year, the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, supported by Finlandia Foundation National, hosts many activities and resources related to Finnish and Finnish American culture -- including a Folk School, a film series, an Art Gallery and a Historical Archive. During Juhannus, the public was invited to view an art exhibit in the Finlandia Art Gallery, attend Finnish American Folk School activities, and enjoy the Saturday Night Dance in the spacious Community Hall with music by the Back Room Boys.
In the Finnish American Heritage Center, the Back Room Boys band play a variety of music for the June 21 Juhannus Saturday Night Dance, including this folk dance as well as traditional Finnish partner dances, which were preceded by lessons. (Video © and courtesy John Peiffer)In the Finlandia Art Gallery, visitors could enjoy The Folk School at Midsummer, an annual group exhibit presenting the work of the folk school instructors and students. Here are a few examples from the exhibit, which continues through September 10, 2025:
*Editor's Note:
If you have ideas or suggestions for planning the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture events in Hancock, CLICK HERE for Jim Kurtti's contact information.
