Event Details
Wife Carrying World Championship 2027 in Sonkajärvi
On 2 and 3 July 2027, the small Finnish town of Sonkajärvi once again becomes the global capital of one of the world's most unique sporting events. At the Wife Carrying World Championship (Finnish: Eukonkanto), male competitors carry their female partners through a 253.5-metre obstacle course featuring water hazards and sand traps. The prize? The winner's wife's weight in beer.
History of the Championship
The origins of wife carrying trace back to the 19th century legend of Finnish bandit Herkko Rosvo-Ronkainen, who reportedly raided villages and carried women on his back. Since 1992, the official championship has been held annually in Sonkajärvi, drawing competitors from over a dozen countries. Today the event is a beloved international festival that blends competitive spirit, humour and authentic Finnish culture.
Highlights
- Sprint competition on Friday evening (2 July 2027) at 7:00 PM
- Team race and main championship on Saturday (3 July 2027) from 1:00 PM
- Grand prize ceremony on Saturday at 5:30 PM
- Tonkkumi World Championships on Saturday morning
- Authentic Sonkajärvi local market with crafts, local food and children's activities on both days
- Evening parties (18+) on both Friday and Saturday from 8:00 PM until 2:00 AM
- The Robber Ronkainen historical camp at the market area
Program
Friday, 2 July 2027
- 10:00 AM: Sonkajärvi Local Market opens (until 7:00 PM)
- 4:00 PM: Market devotional
- 7:00 PM: Wife Carrying Sprint Competition at the Wife Carrying Arena
- 8:00 PM: Evening party at the Sports Hall (strictly 18+)
Saturday, 3 July 2027
- 10:00 AM: Local Market and Tonkkumi World Championships (until 5:00 PM)
- 1:00 PM: Team Race at the Wife Carrying Arena
- 2:45 PM: Wife Carrying Parade
- 2:50 PM: Official opening ceremony
- 3:00 PM: Wife Carrying World Championships (main race)
- 5:30 PM: Prize ceremony at the Sports Hall
- 8:00 PM: Evening party (adults only)
Rules & Carrying Styles
The female participant must be at least 17 years old and weigh a minimum of 49 kg. She does not need to be the competitor's actual wife. Permitted carrying styles include the piggyback style, the fireman's carry (over the shoulder) and the Estonian style, in which the woman hangs upside down with her legs around the carrier's shoulders. The course is 253.5 metres long and includes a 1-metre-deep water obstacle as well as land-based hurdles.
Tickets
Tickets for the Saturday championship are available via the official online shop. Adult admission costs €18.00 and children aged 7 to 17 pay €5.00. Children under 7 enter free of charge. Evening party tickets are sold separately. Tickets are exchanged for wristbands at the entrance gates. The venue is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities; personal assistants enter free with a valid entitlement card.
Visitor Tips
- Sonkajärvi is located approximately 450 km north of Helsinki; travel by train to Iisalmi followed by a bus connection takes around 6 to 7 hours.
- Book accommodation well in advance as the town fills up quickly during the festival weekend.
- The organiser provides bus transport connections from the surrounding region; details are available on the official website.
- The entire festival venue is fully accessible for visitors with reduced mobility.
- A dedicated children's obstacle course is set up at the market area for young visitors.
- Plenty of Finnish beer is available on site; after all, it is the official prize.
