Ruka Nordic 2025 concludes with record attendance – the winter season opens strongly from Finland
Ruka Nordic 2025 concluded on Sunday with the strongest ticket sales in the event’s history. Over the course of three days, the event welcomed close to 30,000 visitors across all accredited groups. Growth was particularly visible in ticket sales and hospitality services, where revenues increased by more than 20 percent compared to last year. A new highlight for 2025 was the Porosarvi Food Market, bringing local Kuusamo-based food producers and regional culinary experiences directly to the stadium area. VIP services also reached a historic milestone, as both VIP lounges — Sudenpesä and Ahmankolo — sold out for the first time in the history of Ruka Nordic.
Event Secretary General Harri Keskiaho describes the weekend as a major success despite adjustments to the ski jumping programme. He notes that audience growth is a continuation of Ruka Nordic’s long-term development work and Ruka’s renowned snow reliability, which continues to attract both teams and spectators early in the season.
“We succeeded in creating one of the great winter-opening weekends. The Alpine World Cup opened the season in Levi, and now the Nordic disciplines gathered in Ruka. The crowds arrived in great numbers, and the atmosphere across the stadium was fantastic throughout the weekend. Year after year, Ruka proves why we are able to host the season opening in Cross-Country and Nordic Combined and stage three World Cup disciplines at the same venue.”
Keskiaho also highlights the impact of regional development on the event’s long-term success.
“There are several ongoing accommodation and travel business investments in the area that will strengthen the overall event experience and increase the capacity of local tourism services. The cooperation between the City of Kuusamo and regional operators gives us the foundation to develop Ruka Nordic even further in the years to come.”
Ruka Nordic strengthens its commitment to sustainability
Keskiaho emphasizes that, beyond athletes, the event’s backbone is its dedicated workforce. Ruka Nordic’s sustainability programme focuses strongly on social responsibility, with volunteer operations at its core. This year, the event was delivered with the help of 650 volunteers, who contributed across all functional areas.
“Our volunteers are the backbone of this event. They do an incredible job, and it is directly reflected in the smooth operations and the positive atmosphere across the venue. This year required quick decisions and flexibility from them once again — and they delivered excellently.”
Ruka Nordic continues to have a significant annual impact on the Kuusamo region. The event fills the area’s accommodation capacity and marks the start of the early-winter tourism season ahead of Christmas. Keskiaho sees collaboration with the city and regional partners as essential for continued growth.
“We share a clear long-term goal: to develop Ruka Nordic systematically and strengthen its position as a key part of the international FIS World Cup calendar. The investments being made in this area create new opportunities to expand our services for teams, partners, and spectators. In our vision for the future, Ruka Nordic is not only a major international sports event, but also a meeting point for the business community and a showcase of our region to the world.”
Ruka Nordic moves forward toward its 25th edition next year. The event will be held again on the last weekend of November in 2026.