The Turku Medieval Market (Keskiaikaiset markkinat) is held over four days, Thursday to Sunday, on the weekend after Midsummer on the Old Great Square (Vanha Suurtori) beside Turku Cathedral, with side programmes at Turku Castle, the cathedral and the Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova museum. The 2026 market ran 25–28 June, opening 12:00–20:00 on Thursday and Friday and 12:00–18:00 at the weekend.
Admission is free. Vendors are selected for medieval-appropriate products: handicrafts, textiles, leather, blacksmith work, honey, bread and other food and drink. Craft demonstrations take place in Porthan’s Park next to the square, and a costumed market play with a cast of volunteers and professional actors unfolds in episodes through each day, alongside minstrels, jugglers, dance, children’s activities and lectures.
The event has been run since 1996 by the association Turun Suurtorin keskiaika ry together with the Museum Centre of Turku, the Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova museum, the cathedral parishes and Rohan Stables, whose riders provide the horses. Attendance was reported at around 180,000 in 2015, and the organisers describe it as Finland’s largest medieval and historical event.
Turku is about two hours by train from Helsinki and the square is a short walk from the station or the riverside. The market is outdoors; Finnish midsummer weather can swing from hot to wet, so bring layers. Many visitors wear costume, and hire is available locally.
