On your way to the festival gates!

Summer's best weekend starts today – here's everything you need to know before heading to the festival!

A year of impatient waiting is finally over, as the gates to the 2026 edition of Ilosaarirock open today, Friday, at 2 pm. Three days of carefree fun, unforgettable moments and, of course, incredible live music lie ahead. To help make your arrival and festival experience as smooth as possible, we've gathered the most important last-minute tips below.

Gate prices for Ilosaarirock come into effect at the same time the festival gates to summer's best weekend open – on Friday 17 July at 2 pm. We definitely recommend getting your ticket before then, but if your plans change, tickets will still be available throughout the festival weekend from the information point next to the Main Gate. You can pay for your tickets at the info point using the most common debit and credit cards as well as Epassi.

The easiest ways to get here are on foot, by bike, by public transport or by car. The festival site is around 2 kilometres from the centre of Joensuu. Bikes can be left at Ilosaarirock's paid bike parking area (€4), located at Louhela Field in front of the festival site. Free Rock Buses run between the railway station and the festival site throughout the weekend, and local buses also stop at the temporary festival bus stop in the Vesikko swimming hall parking area. If you're arriving by car, we recommend using Ilosaarirock's paid day parking (€27/day), located right next to the festival site.

The gates open at 2 pm on Friday and at 1 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The quickest way to exchange your ticket for a wristband is before arriving, either at Rokkikontti in central Joensuu (Koskikatu 8) or at the wristband exchange points outside the festival site. You can check the opening hours for wristband exchange points here.

The information point next to the main gate sells festival tickets and is there to help with everything from lost tickets to missing backpacks. During festival opening hours, the info point also serves as Ilosaarirock's lost property point.

Entry to the festival site is through a security check. Take a look at Ilosaarirock's list of permitted and prohibited items before you arrive so you'll know what you can bring with you. A few useful reminders: you're welcome to bring your own water bottle (up to 1.5 litres), small umbrellas and your own small snacks. We also recommend dressing for the weather and wearing comfortable shoes and a hat!

The most common debit and credit cards, contactless payments and mobile payment methods using contactless are accepted throughout Ilosaarirock. Please note that cash is not accepted anywhere on the festival site or at Ilosaarirock's own service points outside the festival area, including the day parking, bike parking and information point.

The cloakroom is open every day in the area between the main gate and the security check. Each visit costs 5€.

Safety comes first! Ilosaarirock's first aid station is located outside the festival site opposite the main gate, and first aid teams also patrol the festival area throughout the weekend. For smaller mishaps, visit Rokkikorjaamo between the Sound Stage area and the Main Stage's large Baaribaari. Rokkikorjaamo also offers mental wellbeing support if you need someone to talk to during the festival.

A trained harassment contact person is also available throughout the festival weekend. You can report any inappropriate behaviour, harassment or discrimination you've witnessed or experienced by calling or texting +358 50 512 9011 between 17–19 July, or by filling in this anonymous form.

We'd also like to remind everyone of Ilosaarirock's safer space guidelines, known as the Rock Etiquette, as well as our Gig Etiquette, which helps everyone enjoy live shows together. We can all do our part to create and maintain the unique, welcoming atmosphere that makes summer's best weekend so special.

That's the essentials covered! If you're still looking for more information, you'll find answers to just about any festival question on Ilosaarirock's comprehensive info pages.

Ready to rock? Let's get it!