The courts will have an Open Day on Friday 23 October and Monday 26 October

Several courts will have an open day for the public and students on Friday 23 October 2026 and Monday 26 October 2026. 25 October, which falls on a Sunday this year, is known in Europe as the European Day of Justice. In Finland, the day is celebrated by organising an open day to the buildings and activities of the court system. The national event is now being organised for the third time.

This year, a total of eight courts from different parts of Finland will participate in the event. Below are more detailed programs by location.

Jyväskylä

Open Day at the Central Finland District Court (Vapaudenkatu 54, Jyväskylä) on Friday 23 October 2026 from 9 am to 2 pm.

Programme:

At 9–10 a.m., the Chief Judge’s welcome speech and presentation of the District Court’s departments in courtroom 6

• Representative of the National Prosecution Authority present
• Representatives from each department in the district court
• Trainee judge and judge in charge present
• Representative of the process servers present

From 10.00 a.m. onwards, demonstration trial in a civil case, Courtroom 6

From 11.00 a.m. onwards, demonstration trial in a criminal case, Courtroom 6

From 12.00 p.m. onwards, demonstration trial in a civil case, Courtroom 6

From 1:00 p.m. onwards, demonstration trial in a criminal case, Courtroom 6

The event ends at 2 p.m.

There is a security check upon arrival at the district court. A limited number of overall badges are available for students.

Kuopio

Open Day on Friday 23.10.2026 at 9.30–12.

Eastern Finland Court of Appeal and Administrative Court of Eastern Finland, Courthouse, Minna Canthin katu 64, entrance from Puistokatu.

At 9.30 a.m., the doors of the Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court open, the programme begins.

There is a security check upon arrival. Coffee will be served from 9:30 to 12:00. Activity point for children.

Programme:

9.45 a.m. Information on the activities of the Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court

10.00 a.m. Visiting the Heritage Room of the Court of Appeal

10.15 a.m. Reform of the evidence recording

10.30 a.m. Visiting the heritage room of the Court of Appeal

10.45 a.m. Information on the activities of the Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court

11.00 a.m. Visiting the Heritage Room of the Court of Appeal

11.15 a.m. Reform of the evidence recording

11.30 a.m. Visiting the Heritage Room of the Court of Appeal

11.45 a.m. Information on the activities of the Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court

9.30–12 Free access to the courtrooms when there is no other programme.

Introductory videos of the judiciary.

The event ends at 12 noon.

Open Day on Friday 23.10.2026 at 12–15.30.

North Savo District Court, Palokärki Courthouse, Tulliportinkatu 35.

12.00 The doors of the District Court open, the programme begins.

There is a security check upon arrival. Coffee will be served from 12:00 to 15:30.

Programme:

12.30 Show trial

12.30 Court mediation/conciliation

14.00 Show trial

14.00 Court mediation/conciliation

15.30 Programme ends

More information for those attending the Open Day

Arrival instructions / parking

Both courthouses are easily accessible by public transport. Please note that there are limited parking spaces in the vicinity of the premises. There are private parking spaces and parking garages nearby, such as Toriparkki.

There is one parking space for the disabled and one parking space for short-term parking (30 min.) in the courtyard of the courthouse on Minna Canthin katu. Other private parking spaces in the courtyard are reserved for people with separate parking permits.

There are two parking spaces for disabled people on the right side of the main entrance of the Palokärki courthouse. There are no other parking spaces.

Accessibility

The premises of the courthouse and Palokärki are accessible. If necessary, you can contact the above-mentioned contact persons of the courts.

Oulu

An open house will be held at the Oulu Courthouse (Torikatu 34, Oulu) on 23 October from 12 noon to 3 pm. At the event, you can get acquainted with the Oulu Courthouse and the activities of the Oulu District Court and the Northern Finland Administrative Court.

Everyone arriving at the event will be subject to a security check. Coffee will be served at the event.

Programme:

12.00 Court mediation – what is it?

12.30 Presentation of the activities of the Administrative Court

13.00 Demonstration trial in a criminal case

13.45 Presentation of civil proceedings

14.30 Process server’s work

15.00 Demonstration trial in a criminal case

The presentations and demonstrations last about 30 minutes. There will be staff from the District Court and the Administrative Court, as well as representatives of Victim Support Finland.

Vantaa

Open Day at the Itä-Uusimaa District Court on Friday 23 October 2026 from 12 noon to 4 pm, at Kielotie 21, Vantaa.

Welcome to learn more about the activities of the district court!

Programme:

Courtroom 2 Presentation of process servers’ activities

                           Process servers’ representatives on site.

Courtroom 3 Summary disputes and petitionary matters

                           Representatives of the district court secretaries present.

Courtroom 12 Criminal and civil cases

                           Representatives of the district court secretaries present

Courtroom 15 Judge’s work and traineeships

                           The district judge and representatives of court and university trainees are present.

Courtroom 12 Show trial in a criminal case at 1 p.m. and 3.15 p.m.

Courtroom 7 Court mediation – what is it? 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

A limited number of overall badges will be distributed.

Upon arrival at the district court, a security check is carried out.

Vaasa

The Vaasa Court of Appeal (Hovioikeudenpuistikko 0, Vaasa) will hold the second Open Day of the anniversary year on Monday 26 October 2026 from 2 pm to 6 pm, when the public will be able to get to know the historic Court of Appeal building on guided tours. After the guided tour, the main courtrooms of the Court of Appeal will provide information about the activities and main hearings of the Court of Appeal and answer questions from the public. The registration link will be published later on the website of the Vaasa-Korsholm guides and it will be announced on the guides’ social media, for example.

There is a security check upon arrival at the Court of Appeal. Please also note that the Court of Appeal building is not fully accessible. You can participate accessibly in the presentations in the main courtroom. More detailed information on accessibility is available on the website of the Court of Appeal and when registering.

For more information on all events, please contact the Communications of the National Courts Administration, tuomioistuinvirasto.viestinta(at)oikeus­­.fi