Volunteering

Volunteering at Ilosaarirock is one way to experience summer’s best weekend – an easy, feel-good way to step into festival life. Applications for Ilosaarirock 2026 are now open, jump in!

Looking for an easy way to experience a festival while being part of Ilosaarirock, getting a behind-the-scenes look at how music festivals come together, and meeting amazing like-minded people? Volunteering at Ilosaarirock offers an unforgettable experience for first-timers, seasoned festivalgoers, younger and older participants alike – and for anyone who might not otherwise have the chance to attend.

You don’t need any previous experience, special skills, or professional background. All volunteering at Ilosaarirock is supportive in nature, and there’s a wide range of ways to get involved. You’ll often be interacting with the festival’s wonderful visitors, so a friendly, positive attitude will take you far.

Most volunteering takes place during the festival weekend, from Friday to Sunday, between late morning and evening. Typically, volunteers take part on two festival days, for around 8 hours each.

Ilosaarirock is an all-ages event, but please note that any non-Finnish-speaking volunteers must be at least 18 years old to apply. The recommended minimum age for Finnish-speaking volunteers is 16 years old. For 12–15-year-olds applying to volunteer for the first time, there’s a chance to join us through our Rokki-TET program.

Take a closer look below and apply now!

Volunteer Teams

Customer Service

A large part of volunteering at Ilosaarirock involves customer service. You’ll meet festival-goers at the cloakroom, wristband exchange, info point, and staff services. This suits volunteers of all ages, and no special skills are needed – a positive, attentive attitude and an easy smile go a long way.

Recycling & Clean-Up

The recycling and clean-up team helps keep the festival area pleasant and ensures waste ends up where it belongs. Volunteers act as recycling guides and move around the area as part of clean-up patrols. You’ll often be on the move, so good shoes are recommended. What matters most is a proactive and careful approach.

Catering

Catering keeps the festival’s staff and volunteers fueled. At spots like the 'Taukotupa' (a break house for all staff members), you’ll help make sure fresh coffee, tea, and light snacks are always available. No special skills are required, but if you have a hygiene passport or experience with food handling, be sure to mention it in your application.

Site Visuals

Site visuals cover everything you see at the festival – from large structures and art pieces to decorations and finishing touches. Volunteers help put the final touches on the festival area so that Laulurinne looks impressive, welcoming, and vibrant throughout the weekend. It’s very hands-on, but no special artistic skills are required!

All-Rounders

The All-Rounders team is a great fit for people interested in all kinds of volunteering around the festival. Your involvement may include a bit of everything, so a can-do attitude and the ability to adapt quickly are key. This is a great option if you’ve volunteered at Ilosaarirock before or want a broader view of how everything comes together.

Volunteer Perks

All Ilosaarirock volunteers receive a volunteer wristband, which gives access to the festival area for the entire weekend. You can enjoy concerts and the festival atmosphere outside of your volunteering time as well.
Each volunteer receives a staff t-shirt, which changes every year and is worn during volunteering. These shirts aren’t available for purchase – they’re exclusively for summer’s best volunteers!
All volunteers are provided with a hot meal in the staff canteen on their volunteering days. Allergies and dietary requirements are collected during the application process to make sure there’s something suitable – and tasty – for everyone.
'Taukotupa', Ilosaarirock's own staff break house, serves as a shared hangout spot for volunteers and staff, offering coffee, tea, and snacks at a small cost. It’s a great place to take a break or spend time with fellow volunteers.
Volunteers coming from outside central Joensuu can apply for shared accommodation arranged by Ilosaarirock. This is available only during the festival weekend. If you’re taking part before the festival, you’ll need to arrange your own accommodation. Please indicate your accommodation needs in the application form.

Apply as a volunteer

Applications are submitted via the form below. Please fill it in carefully – especially make sure your email address and phone number are correct.

Fill in the volunteer application

Please note that all non-Finnish-speaking volunteers must be at least 18 years old to apply.

Applications are open until the end of June, and all applicants will be contacted by Friday, July 3rd. Things usually start getting busy towards the end of May, so please hang tight while we get in touch. And don’t forget to keep an eye on your spam folder – sometimes our messages can end up there by mistake.

If you have any questions about volunteering, applying, or the selection of applicants, please don't hesitate to ask: [email protected].

Volunteering

Volunteering at Ilosaarirock is one way to experience summer’s best weekend – an easy, feel-good way to step into festival life. Applications for Ilosaarirock 2026 are now open, jump in!

Apply as a volunteer

Summer’s best alternative festival experience is waiting – welcome to Ilosaarirock as a volunteer!