When modern daters look for love, they rarely cast a net beyond a reasonable drive from home. Yet, Finland is challenging that convention by inviting romantic hopefuls to expand their radius by several thousand miles, complete with complimentary flights, hotel accommodations, and four days of immersive sightseeing.

The Nordic state is searching for 16 single individuals willing to embark on a journey to Finland for a blind-date experience in February 2027, covering virtually all expenses. These fully sponsored excursions will unfold across Helsinki and Tampere, featuring curated itineraries filled with culinary adventures, local sightseeing, and exclusive group dinners with Finnish residents, complete with menus crafted by the nation's premier culinary talents.

Entitled Finnish Dinner Date, this campaign is spearheaded by Visit Finland, the national tourism organization, to spotlight the country's culinary landscape to global visitors. Although the nation has claimed the title of the world's happiest country for nine consecutive years, its gastronomic offerings have historically garnered less international acclaim than those of its Nordic neighbors. Visit Finland aims to leverage romance to shift that narrative.

This novel concept draws inspiration from a domestic dating craze known as sinkkukori, or the single basket. Within select grocery stores, patrons can pick up a pink basket to visibly indicate their single status and openness to meeting new people. This viral retail phenomenon ultimately inspired Visit Finland to scale the concept far beyond the supermarket aisles.

Food brings Finns together, and now we are inviting travellers to join us in a truly one-of-a-kind way, remarked Heli Jimenez, senior director of international marketing at Business Finland, during an October 20 announcement.

What The Free Trips To Finland Include

Scheduled between February 9 and 19, 2027, the four-day journeys will divide the 16 victors evenly, sending eight to the coastal capital of Helsinki and another eight to Tampere within the scenic Lakeland region.

Participants will spend days navigating their designated destination through hosted excursions encompassing outdoor pursuits, traditional saunas, and local attractions. The focal point of the trip, however, centers on a group dinner where the eight international guests will dine alongside two local Finnish singles, enjoying a multi-course tasting menu designed by a top Finnish chef.

In Helsinki, the culinary experience is helmed by Adele Kinnunen, head chef of Café Savoy and an alumna of MasterChef Professionals Finland. Meanwhile, the Tampere dining experience is designed by Henry Tikkanen, the restaurateur behind Gösta who has proudly represented Finland in the elite Bocuse d’Or cooking competition.

Visit Finland will shoulder the financial burden of round-trip transportation, private room accommodations, meals, and structured activities. However, participants forfeit the ability to select their destination. The tourism board assigns each winner to either Helsinki or Tampere, revealing the location only after they formally accept the invitation.

Despite the romantic framing of the campaign, no formal matchmaking service operates behind the scenes. The dinners are structured strictly as communal gatherings rather than one-on-one dates, and organizers make no guarantees regarding romantic outcomes.

How To Apply For Finland’s Free Vacation

The application window welcomes single adults aged 18 and older from across the globe, excluding citizens and residents of Finland.

Securing a spot requires a two-step procedure. First, applicants must produce an English-language video answering a single prompt: What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?

Candidates must then upload the video to Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, appending the hashtag #FinnishDinnerDate and tagging the official Visit Finland profiles (@ourfinland on Instagram, @visitfinland.com on TikTok, and @VisitFinland on YouTube).

  • Instagram and TikTok entries must maintain public visibility.
  • YouTube submissions can be set as unlisted for privacy.
  • All content must feature original audio and footage of the applicant.

Following the video upload, candidates must submit the official online application form containing the link to their media entry. A panel of judges will review submissions based on creativity, authenticity, and the depth of the personal response. Visit Finland seeks a diverse mix of participants spanning various nations, age groups, and backgrounds.

The application deadline falls on November 10, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. Finnish time, corresponding to 4:59 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Winners will be notified privately before a public reveal on December 1 across Visit Finland's social media channels. Selected individuals must respond within 48 hours of the public announcement or forfeit their prize under the campaign rules.