I’ve been visiting the happiest country on Earth every year since I was a baby. Not short of marketing savvy, Visit Finland latched on to this with a “Masterclass of Happiness” advertising campaign. And it’s probably no coincidence that Lonely Planet named Finland in its 2026 Best in Travel guide as a country “for finding happiness in wild places”. The area of Finland I know best is South Karelia, most of which is in Finnish Lakeland. The Helsinki Biennial takes place in HAM Helsinki Art Museum on Vallisaari island, a 20-minute ferry ride from the city centre.

Source: The Guardian January 31, 2026 10:30 UTC