Finland once again tops the United Nations’ World Happiness Report 2026. This marks the ninth straight year as the world’s happiest country.
Finns often credit their happiness to a strong connection with nature and a balanced way of life. They achieve this by stepping away from screens, slowing down, and spending time outdoors.
Finns find happiness in everyday moments: swimming in clear lakes, heating the sauna, walking in the forest, and sharing good food with friends at a summer cottage.
To celebrate the 2026 milestone win, Visit Finland invites travellers to try the Finnish antidote to digital overload through a Chill Like a Finn challenge. Participants in the contest can enter to win a free seven‑day summer stay in Finnish Lakeland, one of Europe’s largest lake regions.
The 7‑Day “Chill Like a Finn” Challenge
Instead of a packed itinerary, the experience focuses on the essentials of Finnish relaxation:
- Lakeside cottage living
- Traditional sauna and refreshing lake swims
- Time in forests and nature
- Seasonal food and good company
- And, most importantly, putting the phone away
- Applications for the Chill Like a Finn challenge are now open. People worldwide are invited to apply and explain why they need a true summer reset.
- Selected participants will travel to Finland in summer 2026 with a guest for 7 days to learn how to “chill like a Finn” in Finnish Lakeland. They will experience everyday rituals tied to Finnish wellbeing, from sauna culture to long, quiet days by the water.
- The application period runs until March 29, 2026, after which, Visit Finland will announce the chosen participants.
Several major airlines from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Finland, all with one or more stops: Icelandair, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair (via partners), Air Canada, Delta, and American Airlines.
