FESTIVAL Info
Ilosaarirock, known locally as the best weekend of the summer, takes place over three days in Joensuu, Finland from the 18th to the 20th of July, 2025. The festival is held at a scenic lakeside location, and is within walking distance from the Joensuu city centre. Ilosaarirock has been running since 1971, and the festival is organised by Ilosaarirock Oy, which is owned by a non-profit organisation founded on the idea of supporting the local live music scene.
Ilosaarirock Festival is much loved and treasured by both its organisers and guests, bringing together a crowd of some 70 000 people annually for one happy and unforgettable weekend. You can read more about the festival and its organisers here.
Tickets for Ilosaarirock are available as three-day, two-day, and one-day options, as well as VIP tickets for three and one-day options. Separate one-day youth and children's tickets are also available for purchase.
Official tickets for Ilosaarirock are sold through Ticketmaster. Tickets can be purchased online or at Ticketmaster outlets. Please note that delivery fees from Ticketmaster may apply to the final ticket price.
From Wednesday to Friday of the festival week (16–18 July), tickets will also be available for purchase at Rokkikontti, located in the courtyard of the former Joensuu Lyseo high school (Koskikatu 8). During the festival weekend, you can also buy tickets at the Ilosaarirock information point by the main gate – if they haven’t sold out in advance. Please note that the accepted methods of payment at both Rokkikontti and the information point are the most common debit and credit cards, as well as contactless payment and contactless mobile payment methods.
All Ilosaarirock festival tickets must be exchanged for wristbands before entering the festival grounds.
Age Limits and Children’s Tickets
Ilosaarirock is an all-ages festival. However, we strongly advise that minors be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the festival.
There are separate one-day youth and children’s tickets available for Ilosaarirock. Youth tickets are for 13–17-year-olds, and children’s tickets are for 8–12-year-olds. Children’s ticket holders can only enter the festival when accompanied by a guardian who has purchased their own ticket for the same festival day. The age of all youth and children’s ticket holders will be checked at the wristband exchange.
Children under 8 can enjoy Ilosaarirock free of charge on one chosen day, as long as they are accompanied by a guardian, who’s purchased their own ticket. The free children’s ticket can be picked up upon arrival at the information point by the main gate. The age of children under 8 will also be checked when collecting the ticket.
If you're bringing children to Ilosaarirock, please let them set the pace and make sure they have a safe, alcohol-free festival experience.
Some festival services, such as all bar areas and VIP services, are age-restricted and reserved for adult attendees only.
If you’ve already purchased an Ilosaarirock ticket, you can upgrade it to cover more festival days or switch from a standard ticket to a VIP ticket by paying the price difference, along with any applicable upgrade or processing fees. Upgrades must be done directly through the customer service of the ticket provider where the original ticket was purchased.
Downgrades are not possible, meaning you cannot exchange a longer-duration ticket for a shorter one – for example, a three-day standard ticket cannot be swapped for a one-day VIP ticket.
Ticket upgrades are available until Sunday, July 13. Once wristband exchange begins, no further ticket changes or upgrades can be made.
You can find the contact details for the ticket providers’ customer service, as well as detailed upgrade instructions, at the bottom of our tickets page here.
We reserve the right to make changes to the Ilosaarirock lineup, schedule, and other arrangements, with updates shared as soon as possible. In line with live music industry practices, festival tickets cannot be refunded due to individual artist cancellations, and no compensation is provided for such changes.
Please note that Ilosaarirock's tickets cannot be used as prizes in competitions or giveaways without the explicit written permission of the festival organizer.
All Ilosaarirock festival tickets must be exchanged for wristbands before entering the festival area. The wristband serves as your access pass, allowing you to move in and out of the festival grounds during the event. The wristband is secured on your wrist at the time of exchange and is checked each time you enter through the gates. There are several entry lanes at the festival gate, so we recommend choosing the one with the shortest queue to speed up your entry.
Wristbands can be exchanged at the Rokkikontti wristband exchange point in the courtyard of the former Joensuu Lyseo high school (Koskikatu 8) from Wednesday to Friday, 16–18 July, during the festival week. The wristband exchange point at the festival grounds on the Louhela Sports Field is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 16–20 July.
VIP customers can exchange their wristbands not only at the regular exchange points but also at their own VIP wristband exchange point in Louhela Sports Field.
Please note that festival customers camping at Holiday Linnunlahti must also exchange their festival tickets for wristbands at Ilosaarirock's wristband exchange points. There is no separate wristband exchange for festival tickets at the campsite. Holiday Linnunlahti handles the exchange of camping wristbands.
Wristband Exchange Opening Hours
Rokkikontti Wristband Exchange Point:
Wed 16 July, 10:00–19:00
Thu 17 July, 10:00–20:00
Fri 18 July, 10:00–18:00
Festival Site Wristband Exchange Points and VIP Wristband Exchange:
Wed 16 July, 12:00–19:00
Thu 17 July, 10:00–20:00
Fri 18 July, 12:00–23:00
Sat 19 July, 11:00–20:00
Sun 20 July, 12:00–17:00
Wristbands can also be exchanged at the main gate information point during the festival's opening hours when the wristband exchange points are closed.
Ilosaarirock takes place in Eastern Finland at the Laulurinne area in Joensuu, located about one kilometre from the city centre. You can easily travel to Joensuu by train, bus, car, or plane. From Joensuu’s railway station and main bus stops, it’s about 1.5 kilometres to the festival grounds.
Summer is a very popular time for travel in Finland, so it’s a good idea to buy all public transport tickets, including train tickets for Ilosaarirock, well in advance. In addition to the regular train services, VR will run an extra return train from Joensuu to Helsinki on the night between Sunday and Monday of the festival weekend, departing on July 21 at 01:02. Tickets for all train services during Ilosaarirock are available on VR’s website and the VR Matkalla app.
Festival Shuttles and Local Buses
The free festival shuttle buses, known as Rokkibussi, run between Joensuu railway station and the festival area, transporting festival-goers from the busiest long-distance trains and buses to the festival and back throughout the entire weekend. You can check the festival shuttle schedule on this page closer to the festival.
The festival shuttles and local buses arrive at and depart from the Vesikko swimming hall parking area, located near the festival grounds. Additional local bus services will be added for the weekend.
You can safely park your bike in the supervised bike park near the main gate. You can also leave your personal electric scooter in the same bike park.
Bike Park Opening Hours:
Fri 18 July, 12:00–02:30
Sat 19 July, 11:00–02:00
Sun 20 July, 12:00–01:30
Parking your bike costs 3€ per time, and payment is made on-site upon arrival. The bike park accepts payment cards and contactless payments. You can pay for your bicycle parking upon arrival – no need to book in advance.
Please note that the bike park is not supervised at night. Remember to pick up your ride before the park closes.
There are designated parking zones for rental e-scooters along Länsikatu and Heinäpurontie. Please note that there are temporary restrictions specifically affecting the use of rental e-scooters in the areas surrounding the festival site, including limitations on routes, speed limits and parking. Please also make sure to check the recent legal changes concerning the use of e-scooters.
Riding rental e-scooters to the festival area or its immediate vicinity is prohibited, and they cannot be parked in the bike park.
The supervised day parking for cars is located next to the festival area in front of the Joensuu racetrack. Access to the parking area is via Heinäpurontie.
Day Parking Opening Hours:
Fri 18 July, 12:00–02:30
Sat 19 July, 11:00–02:00
Sun 20 July, 12:00–01:30
You can leave and return to the parking area during the same day as indicated on your ticket. Please note that the parking area is not supervised at night and overnight stays in vehicles are prohibited. The day parking fee is 27€ per day, and tickets can be purchased here.
Additionally, there is a guarded parking garage near the festival area, organized and ticketed by Holiday Linnunlahti.
During the Ilosaarirock event week, street parking in downtown Joensuu and especially near the festival area is prohibited, and the allowed parking times may differ from the usual.
During Ilosaarirock, a temporary taxi stand operates near the festival area at the Vesikko swimming hall parking lot.
We encourage all festival visitors to arrive on foot, by bike or by using public transport or carpools whenever possible. If you’re driving to Ilosaarirock, we recommend filling your car with fellow festival-goers – it’s not only more fun, but also more eco-friendly!
Temporary Changes to Traffic Arrangements
Ilosaarirock will cause temporary changes to traffic arrangements in the Laulurinne area and its surroundings.
Linnunlahdentie will be closed to all traffic starting at 6pm on Thursday 17 July. Access to the Tiedepuisto parking hall is permitted. Please note that the route to the parking hall runs via the corner of Tiedepuisto and will be clearly signposted. Linnunlahdentie will reopen to traffic at 8am on Monday 21 July.
Access to Hasanniemi will remain smooth via Sepänkatu.
These temporary traffic arrangements are in place to ensure safety during the festival setup, takedown and weekend, and to create a calm environment around Ilosaarirock.
Festival attendees coming from outside Joensuu have the option to stay in the city's hotels, campsites (including RVs), or private accommodations, such as rental homes or apartments provided by local individuals during the Ilosaarirock weekend.
The nearest hotels are located in Joensuu city centre, approximately a 1,5 kilometre distance from the Ilosaarirock festival site. We strongly recommend booking your hotel stay well in advance as the city of Joensuu tends to get very busy during the Ilosaarirock weekend!
Check out the local hotels:
Sokos Hotel Kimmel
Sokos Hotel Vaakuna
Scandic Hotel Joensuu
GreenStar Hotel Joensuu
Lietsu Boutique Aparthotel
Omena Hotel Joensuu
Johanssonin Talo
Hotel Julie
Ilosaarirock does not have its own official campsite. However, for festival guests who’d like to camp, we recommend Holiday Linnunlahti, a campsite located right next to the festival area. At the popular Holiday Linnunlahti, accommodation options include camping, rental cottages, and caravan stays.
Festival guests staying at Holiday Linnunlahti can access the Ilosaarirock festival site directly through their own camping gate.
Holiday Linnunlahti also manages the Hallitie parking garage next to the festival area during the festival weekend. They are responsible for all arrangements at the campsite, as well as the sale of accommodation tickets and parking spaces in the garage. For any questions related to camping or parking in the parking garage, please contact Holiday Linnunlahti directly.
More information and bookings:
www.linnunlahti.fi
[email protected]
In addition to Holiday Linnunlahti, the Jokiasema caravan area near the Ilosaarirock festival grounds provides overnight parking for guests staying in camper vans during the festival weekend. Jokiasema also has a guest marina if you’re arriving by water. Jokiasema is responsible for managing the caravan area arrangements and handling space bookings.
Once Ilosaarirock nears, more private accommodation options become available. Accommodations such as locals’ apartments and vacation homes can be searched for on AirBnb or Tori.fi.
Please be aware of possible scammers when reserving your private accommodations! We recommend you book your stay via verified channels or people you know and can identify. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is! Ilosaarirock Festival is not responsible for any possible scams you may encounter when reserving a private accommodation.
Please remember to respect the local residents' privacy in the nearby area and avoid littering as well as loitering in the yards of residential buildings.
Ilosaarirock’s festival grounds, Laulurinne, is a park area located by the shores of Lake Pielinen, featuring plenty of grassy spaces and a lovely beach. The site is mostly navigable via sandy paths, with the exception of a gentle incline leading to the back area of the festival grounds.
Throughout the festival weekend, Ilosaarirock will bring fantastic live music, exciting side activities, visual experiences, and delicious food and drinks to Laulurinne. It’s the perfect recipe for the best weekend of the summer!
The Ilosaarirock festival site is open from about half an hour before the day’s first show and closes no later than one hour after the final act has finished.
Friday 18 July
Site open from 14:00 to 02:30, shows from 14:30 to 02:00
Saturday 19 July
Site open from 12:00 to 02:00, shows from 12:30 to 01:30
Sunday 20 July
Site open from 13:00 to 01:00, shows from 13:30 to 00:00
Ilosaarirock is an all-ages festival. However, we strongly advise that minors be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the festival.
If you're bringing children to Ilosaarirock, please let them set the pace and make sure they have a safe, alcohol-free festival experience.
Some festival services, such as all bar areas and VIP services, are age-restricted and reserved for adult attendees only.
The accepted methods of payment at Ilosaarirock are the most common debit cards, credit cards, as well as contactless payment and contactless mobile payment methods.
Within the festival area, cash payments are not accepted. Cash is also not accepted as a payment method at the information point located outside the festival, the bike parking area or Ilosaarirock's designated parking lots.
A deposit is added to the price of all alcoholic beverages sold at Ilosaarirock. A 1€ deposit is added to cans, bottles, cups and glasses. A 5€ deposit is added to wine and champagne coolers, as well as buckets. There is no deposit on shot glasses or non-alcoholic beverage containers, such as soda and water cans and bottles.
Deposits can be returned at the bar areas during your next purchase at the counter or at the deposit return point.There is a daily maximum refund limit per payment card for deposit returns; you can check the exact limit on this page closer to the festival. Refunds will appear on your payment card within 1–3 banking days.
At the Taffel deposit return points inside the largest bar areas, you can also choose to swap your deposit for a bag of Taffel chips instead of a cash refund.
Information Point and Lost & Found
The Ilosaarirock information point, located by the festival entrance, is the place to go for any festival-related issues, from lost tickets to missing backpacks. You can also purchase gate tickets here, provided the festival hasn't sold out in advance.
Throughout the festival weekend, the information point also serves as the lost and found. For lost valuables during nighttime, inquiries can also be made to the security personnel. All unclaimed lost items are transferred to the North Karelia Lost and Found Service ('Pohjois-Karjalan löytötavarapalvelu') on the Monday after the festival at 12 PM.
A paid cloakroom service is available between the main entrance and the security check. Each visit to the cloakroom costs 5 €.
Cloakroom opening hours:
Fri 18 July, 14:00–02:30
Sat 19 July, 12:00–02:00
Sun 20 July, 13:00–01:00
Please note that the cloakroom has limited space. Make sure to keep your cloakroom ticket safe and collect your stored items on time before the festival closes. Any unclaimed items will be taken to the festival’s lost and found at the information point. Ilosaarirock is not responsible for unclaimed belongings.
Access to the festival area is through a security check. The purpose of the security checks conducted by security personnel is to prevent prohibited items and substances from being brought into the festival site. Security personnel make the final decision on whether an item or substance is safe to bring into the festival area. You can check the list of allowed and prohibited items at the bottom of this page.
The fast lane at the security check is for individuals who do not have any bags or other portable items with them.
Please allow enough time when arriving at the festival – especially during busy times, there may be queues at the security check.
Food, Drink and Water Stations
The Ilosaarirock festival grounds offer a variety of food stalls serving hungry festival-goers throughout the event. All food vendors provide a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options, and special dietary needs are also accommodated at each food stall.
There are several bar areas within the festival site, serving adult festival-goers. Please be prepared to show ID at the entrance, as the minimum legal drinking age in Finland is 18. In addition to delicious cocktails and light alcoholic drinks, the bars also offer non-alcoholic options.
In addition to ordering from and frequenting the various food vendors and bars inside our festival area, you are also allowed to bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks inside the festival area. All regular-sized food items, such as sandwiches, fruits, candy, snacks, and similar are allowed. You can also bring small, unopened juice boxes into the festival site.
There are several water stations around the festival site where you can refill your own water bottle. Tap water in Joensuu is proven to be excellent! You’re allowed to bring an unopened or empty clear plastic bottle (max 1.5 L) into the festival site. Please note that glass bottles and alcohol containers are not allowed.
Ilosaarirock has several hundred toilets, centralized into large, all-ages toilet areas around the festival site. You’ll find toilets near the Sound Stage area, along the beach road leading to the YleX Stage, along the route between the Sound Stage and YleX Stage, between the Main Stage Bar (Baaribaari) and Quick Aid & Repair (Rokkikorjaamo), as well as near the main entrance. Additionally, the VIP areas have their own water closets (WCs).
All Ilosaarirock toilets are gender-neutral unisex facilities, with separate sections for those who use the toilet sitting and those who use it standing. The standing sections include urinals.
Accessible toilets are available at or right next to every toilet area. These are clearly marked with signs indicating that wheelchair users, others who need accessible toilet facilities and holders of the Toilet Pass (Vessapassi) are entitled to use them and bypass any queues.
Each large toilet area has handwashing facilities with running water and eco-friendly soap. At water points, there are separate taps for handwashing and for filling water bottles – please note that the handwashing taps are not for filling bottles.
At Ilosaarirock, 100% of waste is either recycled or used for energy production. Recycling stations are set up across the festival grounds for organic waste, metal, glass, cardboard, plastics, cans and bottles, and hazardous waste. There are also dedicated ashtrays for cigarette butts.
Ilosaarirock offers seating and resting spots throughout the festival grounds. The largest seating areas can be found at both Food Courts and around the Sound Stage area. There’s also plenty of grassy space across the Ilosaarirock festival site, perfect for sitting back and enjoying the best weekend of the summer.
The Ilosaarirock Shop, located in the Main Stage area, sells official festival merchandise – from T-shirts, caps and tote bags to hoodies – as well as band shirts and other fan items from the artists and bands performing at the festival.
Ilosaarirock merchandise can also be bought in advance at shop.ilosaarirock.fi.
You’ll find free phone charging stations provided by Pohjois-Karjalan Sähkö near the Rentolava Stage, available for all festival-goers. Additional charging stations are also located in both VIP areas.
Please remember to protect your hearing by using earplugs or earmuffs. Earplugs are available for purchase at various points around the festival grounds, including a dedicated earplug sales booth near the Main Stage area, at the information point and from roaming vendors around the area. Raincoats can be purchased from all the same sales points.
Smoking is prohibited in front of all stages and amidst dense crowds. There are designated smoking areas marked around the festival site, each equipped with ashtrays. Smoking restrictions also apply to e-cigarettes.
Please use the smoking areas whenever possible – there may be people in the audience with respiratory conditions, and they deserve to enjoy the best weekend of the summer without worry. Respect your fellow festival-goers by not smoking among the crowd, and make sure to dispose of cigarette butts and nicotine pouches in the ashtrays provided.
Please note that tobacco products are not sold on the festival site.
Elevate your festival experience to new heights as Ilosaarirock’s VIP customer! With a VIP ticket, you'll enjoy the festival atmosphere in a truly unique way. In addition to the festival's main programme and services, you'll have access to exclusive VIP areas, offering everything you need to create a five-star festival experience, without compromising on quality!
Ilosaarirock offers one-day and three-day VIP tickets. All VIP tickets are for ages 18 and over, as the festival’s VIP services are located in age-restricted bar areas.
In addition to regular festival entry, a VIP ticket gives you access to Ilosaarirock's exclusive VIP areas and a range of special services designed to enhance your festival experience. Please note that food and drinks are not included with VIP tickets.
Ilosaarirock's VIP experience gives you access to two different VIP areas located right by the festival's biggest stages, the Main Stage and the YleX Stage. Both areas feature comfortably furnished VIP spaces with high-quality services. The VIP bars offer beverages to suit every taste: from champagne to craft beers and from shots to delicious mocktails.
Original Long Drink VIP
Located right next to the Main Stage, the Original Long Drink VIP is a two-story structure surrounded by a cozy outdoor area – offering the best views of both the stage and the crowd. The ground floor features a well-stocked bar with a wide selection of drinks, while the outdoor seating area provides the perfect spot to soak in the festival vibes, enjoy live performances, or simply bask in the summer sun.
Guests in the Original Long Drink VIP can also enjoy delicious VIP meals from Restaurant Kerubi. You can treat yourself to tasty options like a tapas plate, a mouthwatering gyros dish or crispy potato or sweet potato fries.
No need to leave the VIP area for a bathroom break – onsite flush toilets ensure a smooth and comfortable festival experience.
The second floor of this exclusive VIP structure is reserved for Ilosaarirock’s private VIP Box guests.
Star VIP
Nestled next to the YleX Stage, Star VIP is your go-to spot to unwind, enjoy top-tier performances, sip on refreshing drinks and socialize in style! This exclusive VIP area is located right by the YleX Stage and offers direct access to the brand-new VIP Front Row, an exclusive viewing area reserved just for our VIP guests.
Guests in the Star VIP also have the chance to enjoy delicious meals from Restaurant Kerubi. The menu includes tasty tapas plates, mouthwatering burgers and flavorful gyros.
With a stylish terrace and plenty of comfy seating on the lawn, Star VIP is perfect for both partying and relaxing. VIP guests also have access to private flush toilets conveniently located right next to the area.
All VIP customers must exchange their tickets for personal VIP wristbands before entering the festival area. The wristband is placed directly on each customer's wrist at the wristband exchange point, after which it serves as an access pass to the festival area and VIP services.
The VIP customers' dedicated wristband exchange point is located near the main entrance of the festival area. VIP tickets can also be exchanged for wristbands at other general wristband exchange points. You can find the opening hours for the wristband exchange points further up on this page.
With the VIP wristband, you can easily navigate through the VIP lanes at the festival's main gate and security checks, straight to the heart of the festival area. You can leave larger items at the cloakroom VIP counter located near the main gate.
As a VIP customer, you can enjoy the delicious food from Restaurant Kerubi at both of our VIP areas. VIP food is sold as individual portions, so you can purchase food on-site at the festival.
VIP Age Restrictions and Accessibility
The age limit for Ilosaarirock's VIP areas is 18 years old, in compliance with Finnish regulations. Please be prepared to prove your age upon entering the VIP area. Children under 12 years old are welcome inside the VIP areas accompanied by a guardian until 7:00 PM every festival day.
The VIP services at the festival are not fully accessible. Ilosaarirock takes place in a park area where movement primarily occurs along gravel paths. The event site is flat, except for the ascent leading to the rear area of the festival. Star VIP is located in the rear area and sits on a grassy area. While there are accessible toilets in the VIP areas, the flush toilets are not accessible. The nearest viewing platforms for VIP services are located in the audience areas of the Main Stage and the YleX Stage.
Ilosaarirock is fully committed to ensuring that everyone is welcome and can attend our festival.
Ilosaarirock takes place in a park area, where most of the site is navigable via sandy paths. The terrain is mostly flat, with the exception of a few gentle inclines leading to the back areas of the festival.
At the main entrance, there is an accessible pathway leading into the festival area through a park-like setting. The pathways may have uneven surfaces in some places. There are plenty of signs throughout the grounds to help guide you around the festival.
Near the festival area, there is an asphalt parking lot that includes a limited number of free parking spaces for disabled individuals. Parking in these spaces requires a disabled parking permit.
Accessible taxis can stop near the disabled parking spaces and the accessible festival entrance that is located on Linnunlahdentie.
You can access the festival area through the main gate as well as a separate accessible gate located near the accessible parking area on Linnunlahdentie (entrance from the racecourse side). The path to the accessible entrance is asphalt. Security checks and wristband verification are conducted at this entrance. There is no wristband exchange at the accessible entrance.
There are viewing platforms for customers with reduced mobility near all Ilosaarirock stages, accessible via gentle ramps. At the Main Stage, YleX Stage, Sound Stage and Oho!, the platforms are located on the all-ages side, while at the Rento Stage, the platform is inside the age-restricted bar area.
Accessible toilets are available at or near all major toilet areas at Ilosaarirock. You’ll also find accessible toilets next to the viewing platforms at the Main Stage and YleX Stage, as well as near the entrance to the Rento Stage bar area.
Accessible toilets are reserved exclusively for people with reduced mobility and those using a Toilet Pass. The VIP areas also have accessible toilets for VIP guests.
Ilosaarirock does not have separate tickets for disabled attendees or those who require a personal assistant – everyone simply purchases a regular ticket. If you require a personal assistant, your assistant can attend the festival free of charge. There is no need to reserve the assistant’s wristband in advance; both the assistant and the person being assisted can collect and exchange their wristbands at the festival’s info point upon arrival. Wristbands are always attached directly to the wrist, so they cannot be picked up on behalf of someone else.
No official proof of disability is required, but if the need for an assistant is not visibly apparent, documents such as an EU Disability Card or a doctor’s certificate may help streamline the process at the info point. This policy also applies to interpreters. Please note that assistance dogs are not permitted at Ilosaarirock.
If you have any questions, concerns or feedback regarding our accessibility, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].
Equality has always been one of Ilosaarirock’s core values. Our visitors, volunteers, performers, employees and partners are all welcome at our festival as they are. We want every single person to feel safe and free to express themselves at Ilosaarirock. We do not allow or tolerate any kind of discrimination or harassment at Ilosaarirock.
We have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment or abuse at Ilosaarirock. Our security guards and entire festival staff have been trained to recognise incidents of harassment and how to intervene. Additionally, a sexual harassment support person works on site and the police will keep the threshold for reporting crimes low.
We are all responsible for our own actions – even in the festival frenzy. Please respect the physical and mental integrity of each and every one of your fellow revellers and take others into consideration in the midst of having fun. If you witness or experience any inappropriate behaviour, alert or turn to any of the festival security guards or Ilosaarirock staff members.
Ilosaarirock’s principles for a safer space have been compiled in the festival’s Rock Etiquette, which you can find in the next section below. In addition, the Ilosaarirock Gig Etiquette provides guidance for festival-goers on how to help create an enjoyable concert atmosphere for everyone.
Summer’s best weekend has no room for discrimination, harassment or inappropriate behavior. That’s why Ilosaarirock is celebrated in line with the principles of a safer space, known as the Rock Etiquette. Let’s make sure everyone gets to enjoy summer’s best weekend together.
Respect others
Respect the physical and mental integrity of every festival goer, as well as their autonomy. Remember that no always means no – respect the boundaries set by others. Treat other people's belongings and the surrounding nature with respect as well.
Don't assume
Don't make any assumptions about other people. Embrace everyone with an open, non-judgmental attitude and allow everyone the space to be their most authentic selves.
Ask for consent
Don't touch others without their permission – including any assistive devices. Ask for consent before entering someone else's physical space. Remember that consent must always be mutual.
Treat others with kindness
Don't criticize, mock, discriminate against, or embarrass anyone with your words or actions – not even as a joke. Treat everyone and everything around you with kindness, warmth and respect.
Stand up for others
We are all responsible for creating the atmosphere of summer’s best weekend. Remember that your actions also affect other festival goers. Intervene in inappropriate behavior and stand up for both yourself and others.
Listen and take responsibility
If you receive any feedback about your actions, receive and be open to it. Apologize if you have unintentionally or intentionally hurt other individuals or their property with your words or actions.
If you feel unsafe at the festival or encounter behavior that violates the Rock Etiquette, always turn to the nearest security guard or other festival staff.
Ilosaarirock has a trained harassment contact person on duty throughout the festival weekend. You can get in touch easily and confidentially by calling or texting +358 50 512 9011 (available from July 18–21, 2025), or by filling out an anonymous form, which will be available on this page closer to the festival.
Let's create summer’s best weekend for everyone together!
We’re all here for the gigs, after all! With Ilosaarirock’s Gig Etiquette, we can all help make sure everyone gets to enjoy the best shows of the summer in their own way. Everyone has the right to let loose and enjoy the music – as long as we remember to be mindful of those around us.
Make space for everyone
Everyone deserves to experience the gigs their own way – whether quietly listening or going all in. Singing along and dancing are more than welcome, but please stay aware of the people around you. Remember, the artist on stage is meant to be watched and listened to – not drowned out by loud catch-ups with friends.
Respect the front row
Fans who arrive early have earned their spots. Respect the front row – don’t push your way into a packed crowd or shove past others when the show starts. No one should be squeezed between the barricade and the crowd. If you want a front-row spot, plan ahead for bathroom and water breaks – your place won’t be saved while you’re gone.
Keep a tight hold on your stuff
Take care of your belongings. Don’t throw drink cans or anything else toward the crowd or the stage. And if you’re sipping a drink during the show, be mindful not to spill it on others around you.
Protect your hearing and eyes
Live music is best enjoyed when you protect your hearing – remember to wear earplugs or earmuffs! Also, keep in mind that bright, flashing lights are a big part of live shows and can affect those sensitive to them.
Don’t block the view
Be mindful of visibility for those behind you. Small signs and soft flags (preferably no larger than A4) are allowed at Ilosaarirock, but don’t block the view with signs, umbrellas or other gear.
Step aside to smoke
Smoking is prohibited in front of all Ilosaarirock stages and in the middle of dense crowds – please stick to the designated smoking areas! Also, respect nature by disposing of cigarette butts and nicotine pouches in the ashtrays provided.
Stay alert
The pressure of a crowd in front of the stage can build up unexpectedly and feel overwhelming. If you find yourself in a crowd surge, stay calm, don’t push back and move with the flow.
More intense dance styles like mosh pits and walls of death are welcome at Ilosaarirock. These create faster and rougher areas near the stage. If that’s not your vibe, stay out of the pit or its edges. And remember, no one gets left behind – help others up if they fall and check on your pit buddies. People near the edges help those leaving the pit safely back into the crowd. Also, give pit-goers space to enjoy the show and don’t shove them from the outside.
Listen to the security staff
Ilosaarirock’s security staff are here to help you at the gigs, too. If you feel unsafe or overwhelmed during a show, raise your hand confidently and call out for help if needed. Always listen to and follow the security team’s instructions.
Be present in the moment
Capturing gigs on photos and videos is great, but try living in the moment, too – focus on the live experience, not just what’s on your screen. We promise, you won’t regret it!
Safety first! We want all of our customers to be able to concentrate on enjoying the festival with peace of mind. The Ilosaarirock organisers work closely with different authorities to ensure safety at the event, and the festival has been praised for the smooth running and peacefulness of the event – also by the authorities.
We have hundreds of security guards both inside the festival site as well as the area just outside it, ensuring the safety of our customers. The local police and rescue services as well as first aid and support services are also all on duty on the festival grounds.
We also take part in developing even safer ways of organising events in cooperation with various national and international parties. We are constantly planning and mapping out safe alternatives and options for the event organising industry.
Access to the festival grounds is through a security check. The purpose of these checks, carried out by event staff, is to prevent prohibited items and substances from being brought onto the site.
The Finnish Red Cross (SPR) provides first aid services at Ilosaarirock from Friday to Monday during the festival weekend. The main first aid station is located near the festival’s main entrance. Inside the festival site, you’ll also find Quick Aid & Repair (‘Rokkikorjaamo’) where you can get help with small festival scrapes and minor concerns. In addition to the main first aid point and Quick Aid & Repair, roaming first aid teams move around the festival site and you can recognize them by their red vests.
Quick Aid & Repair (or 'Rokkikorjaamo'), located between the Sound Stage area and Baaribaari, takes care of small festival scrapes and worries before they have a chance to turn into something bigger. Throughout the festival weekend, festival-goers can visit Quick Aid & Repair to get bandages, wound cleaning and support wraps from Finnish Red Cross (SPR) first aid staff, as well as emotional support and someone to talk to through Mieli ry’s Huolituoli (Worry Chair) service.
If you experience or witness harassment at the festival, you can contact the festival’s harassment contact person by phone at +358 50 512 9011 (available from July 18–21, 2025) or by filling out an anonymous online form. The form will be updated on our website closer to the festival.
Saapastoiminta (Youth Support Patrol)
Joensuun Saapas (Youth Support Patrol) will be on duty near the festival’s main gate throughout the entire weekend. The goal of Saapas is to ensure that no young person is left alone in difficult situations at the festival and to help prevent small problems from becoming overwhelming. At the Saapas tent, you can stop by to chat with trained volunteers about anything that’s on your mind or get support in situations where a helping hand is needed.
Dense Crowds and Crowd Surfing
Ilosaarirock welcomes tens of thousands of people over the course of one weekend. If you feel uncomfortable in tight spaces, it’s best to avoid dense crowds. Crowd pressure can build up quickly, especially in front of the stages. If you do find yourself caught in a surge, stay calm, don’t push back and move with the flow. If you need help, don’t hesitate to call out loudly.
Please remember good crowd etiquette, especially during shows. Don’t push past others when the show starts, and respect that those who arrived early at the front have earned their spots. Everyone has the right to enjoy the show without being crushed between the barricade and the crowd. Also, keep in mind that sitting down in the middle of a dense audience can be dangerous for both yourself and those around you.
Mosh pits and wall of death formations, familiar from the heavy music scene, are allowed at Ilosaarirock. These create a faster-paced, rougher area near the stage. If that’s not your scene, stay out of the pit or its edges. And remember, never leave a pit buddy behind – help anyone who falls and check that they’re okay. People near the edges help those exiting the pit safely back into the crowd. Please give pit-goers space to enjoy the show, and don’t shove them from outside the pit. Security staff keep an eye on the pits and can stop them if things get too rough.
For safety reasons, crowd surfing and sitting on someone’s shoulders are strictly prohibited.
The Ilosaarirock Rento Stage is located on a beach, where you can cool off in the water during the day. However, swimming under the influence/while intoxicated is not safe. The swimming area perimeter is marked with buoys on the water. For the sake of your own safety, please only swim in the designated swimming area.
Ilosaarirock is an all-ages festival, but we recommend that underage visitors attend with a guardian. Festival-goers under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
If you’re attending Ilosaarirock with children, please remember that the festival experience should be shaped around their needs. A large festival crowd of tens of thousands of people and the darkening evening are not the right environment for the youngest family members. Always ensure that children have a safe and completely substance-free festival experience.
Bringing animals into Ilosaarirock is not allowed for safety reasons. This also applies to assistance dogs.
The recommended sound-level exposure values might be exceeded on the festival grounds. Protect your hearing by using earplugs or noise-reduction ear muffs. Please also note that bright, flashing lights are a major part of live shows and may trigger reactions in sensitive individuals.
Both the festival and camping areas are surrounded by fences. Please leave them in place, as they are there to ensure the safety of festival attendees and local residents.
Climbing on any event structures, the famous Ilosaarirock letters, fences, or any other infrastructure is strictly prohibited.
Anyone caught damaging fences or structures will be held responsible for the repair costs.
Photography at Ilosaarirock is allowed with DSLR cameras, compact cameras, phone cameras and action cameras like GoPros. However, we kindly ask you to leave other photography gear – such as tripods, large flashes and lighting equipment – at home. Selfie sticks are permitted at Ilosaarirock. For safety reasons, drones and drone flying are strictly prohibited both inside the festival site and in its immediate surroundings.
When taking photos, please respect the privacy of other festival-goers – don’t post clearly identifiable photos of others on social media or elsewhere without their permission. Security staff have the right to prohibit photography during performances, for example, at the request of the artist.
Professional video recording or filming of the shows is prohibited without separate permission from the artists and their representatives.
Please note that photos and video footage will be taken within the festival site and its immediate surroundings for Ilosaarirock’s marketing and communication purposes. These materials may appear not only on the festival’s own channels but also on the channels of Ilosaarirock’s partners or other third parties. We promise never to show any festival-goer in a negative light, though!
We want all our festival-goers to have the freedom to enjoy the festival. However, please take care of yourself and your friends. Keep track of your friends' whereabouts and let them know your location too. If you see a threatening situation, whether it involves people or structures, report it immediately to the nearest security personnel.
For example:
- Telescopic rods (including selfie sticks)
- Signs made out of laminated paper or cardboard (i.e. A4 or max. A3 in size) and soft flags
- Sealed and transparent plastic bottles (max. 1,5-litres, non-alcoholic)
- Empty transparent plastic bottles (max. 1,5-litres, no alcohol bottles
- Empty re-usable drinking bottles – both transparent and non-transparent (excluding alcohol containers)
- Hairsprays and other cosmetic products
- Foldable camping chairs
- Small umbrellas
- DSLR or SLR cameras and GoPro cameras
- Small packed snacks and food
- E-cigarette/vape supplies
- Common over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen/aspirin
- Medicine and medical devices prescribed to you by a doctor
Prohibited Items and Substances
- Drugs and your own alcoholic drinks, alcohol bottles and containers
- Glass bottles and containers
- Metal food packaging
- Over 1,5-litre plastic bottles or opened bottles
- Own walkie-talkies and radio transmitters
- Long/stick umbrellas
- Laser pens/pointers and powerful thrower flashlights/torches
- Firearms or replicas or items resembling them, cartridges and explosives including flares and fireworks, edged or bladed weapons, needles (without a justified reason) and other items that can be used for cutting/jabbing
- Unnecessary tools (e.g. multi-function tools)
- Other items/objects or substances that could be used for harming others
- Megaphones, air horns and other noisemakers
- Drones, remote control aircrafts and other Unmanned Aerial Vehicles not used by the organiser or the authorities
We reserve the right to make any changes to these lists, and they may be updated at any given time. The final decision about whether an item or a substance is safe to bring into the festival site or not is made by the security guards.
You can download the festival site map and the city map directly to your own device. You can also find a high-resolution festival site map in the Ilosaarirock mobile app (only available in Finnish).
Download the site map (PDF)
Download the city map (PDF)
Can't find an answer to your question? No worries – reaching out to Ilosaarirock is very easy! If you're unsure about anything, don't hesitate to shoot us an email or send us a message through any of our social media channels – we'd be happy to help!