The news that Hancock, MI has been selected as Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture 2026 has received wide and positive coverage in local and regional media in the US. Here is a selection of key articles, news stories and interviews (to be updated):
Upper Michigan’s Source / TV6: “Hancock named 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture”:
“We’re so organically Finnish, so deeply Finnish. We do it without making a spectacle of ourselves. We do it because we are truly proud of who we are and where we come from. And I think it is wonderful that this is being recognised outside this region and even continent” (David Maki, Director of Finnish American Heritage Centre)
Upper Michigan’s Source / TV6: “Hancock makes plans to celebrate designation as Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture”
Visit Keweenaw Executive Director Brad Barnett says the project is another element to attract tourists. He explains how it will work.
“We have a framework of events that will take place across the 12 months of 2026,” Barnett said. “We know the Juhannus and Heikinpaiva and all these events are on the books and those will be amplified and there will be other opportunities for individuals. Whether it is Estonian or Hungarian heritage, we will try to broaden this appeal for some of these events.”
Iron Mountain Daily News: “Hancock receives Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture designation”
Honorary Consul of Finland and Chairman of Copper Country Finns and Friends Jim Kurtti was pleased with the designation. “I’m thrilled it’s happening,” Kurtti said. “The people in the Uralic Centre recognized Hancock as a pesäpaikka, or the nesting place for Finns and the first one in North America that is not on their historic soils like Finland and Estonia. They’re having a bigger conversation because Uralic peoples are struggling to keep their identities with the loss of their languages which are not being taught in school and people spreading throughout the world away from their homes.”
Channel 19 / WZMQ (Marquette) : Hancock named 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture
2026 will bring a large amount of cultural celebrations to the city, with next year’s Juhannus festival at the top of that priority list.
“That is really going to be a big opportunity to make a big impression with all these Estonian, Hungarian, Finnish communities, and getting them here,” said Jesse Wiederhold, PR for Visit Keweenaw. “Especially, when people have been here once, they come back.”
“Here in the Keweenaw it’s very authentic, it’s been going on for a long time,” said Nate Kilponen-Fix, a project assistant at the Finnish American Heritage Center. “But, there are still opportunities for learning and sharing between Finnish Americans, Finns over in Finland, Finno-Ugric peoples, and this next year is a great opportunity to do that.”
Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton) : Celebrating Finno-Ugric Identity
The increase in tourism is especially important to the local economy and Visit Keweenaw, Executive Director Brad Barnett was at the press conference. Barnett said the distinction was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Hancock and the broader Keweenaw community to really shine at an international level when it comes to promoting, sharing and cultivating its Finnish-American heritage.
Barnett believes Hancock selected as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture will continue to distinguish the region as a cultural tourist destination. He expanded on this and said businesses and organizations in the region can capitalize on this and make announcements to spread the word of the city’s designation and do something special related to the naming. Barnett suggested things like special food events or new dining menu options.
WOLF Radio (Houghton): Hancock named as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture opens opportunities to meet new communities
Starting next year Hancock will open the year as the cultural capital of Finno-Ugric languages with the city’s Heikinpaiva festival. Throughout the year the Finnish American heritage center will continue to serve as a headquarters of activity.
“And I think this is kind of a capstone of all the work that the Finnish Foundation national has done, the copper country Finns, the city of Hancock, and the surrounding areas to capture the Finnish culture.” – David Maki, Executive Director, Finnish American Heritage Center
