Elephantasy ’26

Elephant Stage:
Bomba Buena (at 20:30 hs)
Leevi Priha & Dimjami (at 18:45 hs)
Uña de Gato (at 16:45 hs)
Bahgat Kamel (at 15:00 hs)

Funky Amigos dj´s

Gorilla Stage:
Rontti (at 19:30 hs)
Open Mic with Meerirosvo & DJ Lame (at 17:45 hs)
Meerishow (at 16:00 hs)

SoulCirco SirkusSielu (show at 20:20 hs, workshops in Kids’ area)

Hosted by Magic Sam & Sandelicious

OTHER DELIGHTS:

Kids’ Area & Circus Action
Park Bazaar
World Street Food
Park Bar

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Contact

Facebook event »

All rights reserved. Programme subject to changes..

Bomba Buena brings a warm breeze from Cuba with love and an irresistible groove to highlight the last hours of Elephantasy day event! Well known among Helsinki’s dance community for their Bomba Buena Social Club nights, the band has earned a reputation for one thing above all: no one will leave without dancing their heart out.

This powerhouse quartet sets the stage ablaze with everything from timeless Cuban son classics to modern timba anthems, always putting dancers in the first place. Craving a few sweet boleros? A sizzling cha-cha-cha? They’ve got it all! Bomba Buena will transform Helsinki’s Alppipuisto into the vibrant rumba-filled streets of old Havana, creating an atmosphere so authentic you’ll completely forget where you are.

This is simply a performance you don’t want to miss.

This year’s Elephantasy introduces several brand-new musical projects again on the stage. One of them is an exciting collaboration, which got started from the collaboration of singer Leevi Priha and Dimjami, a familiar name already on the local music scene for their diverse music.

Expect a full-band experience with a powerful horn section, rich percussion, and infectious party grooves, driven by Leevi’s soulful vocals and sharp rap verses.

The band’s original songs explore everything from the flow of life and the joy of celebration to more introspective and deeply personal landscapes. Their sound blends soul, funk, reggae, a touch of jazz, and the energy of hip hop into a vibrant live experience that promises to light up Alppipuisto.

And yes, it is Leevi’s father, the seasoned musician Antero Priha, whose career has spanned decades and countless musical adventures, who will be joining the ranks, adding his signature trumpet sound to the mix.

This year, Elephantasy shines a special spotlight on the rich and fascinating world of Latin American music. Bringing the hypnotic sounds of psychedelic Amazonian cumbia to the park is Uña de Gato. Founded over a decade ago by Samuel Villodas, the band combines the irresistible pulse of tropical cumbia with electric guitar inspired by the psychedelic rock of the 1960s and ’70s, creating a mesmerizing live experience that is sure to captivate the audience every time.

Featuring musicians from Finland, Peru, and Chile, Uña de Gato weaves together a truly distinctive musical tapestry where the mystique of the Peruvian rainforest meets the infectious dance energy of cumbia. Let them take you on a journey to the heart of the Amazon!

Another brand-new project making its debut at Elephantasy is Bahgat Kamel‘s fresh ensemble. Led by the Egyptian singer-songwriter himself, the band brings his music to life with a stellar lineup of Finnish jazz musicians.

The ensemble features Timo Tuppurainen on bass, Timo Antikainen on drums, Antti Utriainen on piano, Selim Rantapuro on guitar, Aarni Häkkinen on trumpet, and Henri Lintula on percussion. A truly outstanding lineup.

These musicians are familiar faces from countless Finnish jazz ensembles, and on Saturday their talents come together in a unique meeting of jazz musicianship and Egyptian pop music. We can hardly wait to hear what unfolds on stage!

This year two stages will be built for Elephantasy in Alppipuisto, with the smaller of the two, the Gorilla Stage, dedicated to Finnish hip hop. Closing out the evening there you can enjoy Rontti.

Originally from Joensuu, Rontti has been releasing razor-sharp singles for years, both as a solo artist and as a member of FYR Mafia.

The artist is also known as producer Dr. Berry, whose latest album, Toisin ku ennen, was released in May 2026. Meanwhile, Rontti’s newest single, “Päivä ohi”, dropped just a couple of weeks ago. So expect him to take the Elephantasy stage with his pockets full of fresh material, ready to spark it all up in the park.

Join the performers at Elephantasy? Absolutely possible!

On Saturday, Elephantasy’s second stage is yours during our Open Mic sessions, taking place from 17:45 till 18:30 hs. The session is open to all solo performers and will be hosted by Meerirosvo, who will also warm up the stage with her own show prior to this. DJ Lame will be on the decks, playing the backgrounds and beats.

Sign up using our registration form and let us know:

• your artist name
• what you’d like to perform
• do you need a background track
• which instrument(s) (if any) you’ll be bringing

Meerirosvo and the Funky Amigos team will make sure you’re ready to take the stage.

Each participant will be allocated time for one performance or song preferably.

Microphones will be provided. You’re welcome to bring your own instrument or beat track if needed.

Please note that any kind of hate speech, bullying, racism, discrimination, or form of harassment will not be tolerated in our events.

Sign up using the registration form »

The Gorilla Stage will also be taken over by the Meerishow. And this time, “take over” is definitely no exaggeration. Here’s how the artist herself describes it:

“A humorous one-woman show starring Meerirosvo, also known as the Shakira of Sörnäinen. Blending rap and R&B, this socialite sweetheart is guaranteed to charm – if not the girls, then at least the guys. Backing the show as Fennoselecta is the legendary DJ Megatron. Expect dazzling outfits, clever rhymes, and just about anything you can imagine. Because the world might not be fair but Meeri is!”

There’s not much to add to that. Come and witness it yourself!

After her own spectacular show, Meerirosvo will also host Elephantasy’s Open Mic sessions together with DJ Lame. Rap don’t stop, hip hoppity hop – on Saturday in Alppipuisto!

Nonstop programme between 14 and 19 hs

• SoulCirco’s circus workshops (between 14:30-18:30 hs)
• Guided plays
• Hobby crafts and drawing
• Toys free to be used (inside the area)
• Face paintings (prepare to pay a small fee)

Pop-up street dance lesson: 15:30 hs

SoulCirco SirkusSielu offers memorable and delightful experiences, magic and atmosphere in the Elephantasy children’s area. Circus artists bring an aerial acrobatics stand and other circus equipment and with their help children of all ages can safely practice various circus tricks. Join in!

SoulCirco offers creative exercise for all ages, a low-threshold circus performance point and the opportunity to experience and learn aerial acrobatics, beautiful Flow art and expressive skills. 🙂

Workshops non-stop in the kids’ area between approx. 14:30–18:30 hs

Performance (10 mins) on main stage: 20:20 hs

The lovely park bazaar of Elephantasy includes local vendors offering you lovely wardrobe and handcraft to browse through. Perfect memories to buy home!

Including

• Esengo (African Fashion) (www)
• Favourita
• Inkuto Organics (Instagram) (www)

and several independent local sellers.

Search, explore, admire, try, collect, buy and stay! Welcome to the Park Bazaar of Elephantasy!

Meals:

• Awa Senegal (Instagram)
• Chaco Sound Grill Bike (Instagram / Facebook)
• Gauchori - Argentinian BBQ (Instagram)
• ThaiThai (www)


Other treats:

• Ape Gelato (Instagram)
• Chocolate & Fruits
• Pau Brazil (Instagram)

Info

What to bring along?

You are allowed to bring your own picnic food and drinks, but it is also possible to buy world food treats from the vendors in the area.

Remember to drink enough water in the heat of the sun! We recommend you to bring at least a blanket and a water bottle, which can be filled in the area at the hydrant located behind the main stage by the pond, where you can also wash your hands.

Elephantasy – Funky Family Picnic 2026 has been made possible with the funding from the City of Helsinki for the Alppipuiston kesä summer event series.