This is Generation 2026

Snowdrop Áine-Fae Belmont | Duc Anh (Ducky) Cong | Erial Dolores | Tara Haikka | Aarne Heikura | Rosa Helenius | Rauha Helin | Eeli Hilme | Eino Intosalmi | Eevi Kaila | Elli Kavén | Tekla Kokkonen | Paavo Kärki | Konsta Laaksosaari | Emilia Lehikoinen | Hafsa Mahamed | Stanislava Ovchinnikova | Sofia Parland & Erix Aboltins | Lena Patta | Veera Pelkonen | Arvi Penttilä | Aarni Pieski, Eeva Airavaara, Lilja Kervinen & Lucian Lovén | Gabriella Presnal | Esteri Punin, Elsa Kerava, Remi Nieminen, Aaro Uusitalo, Iiris Itäkannas & Joanna Linnapuomi | Ly Rahtu | Rafael Rainti | Viola Rauta | Tapio Rokkonen | Elli Roth | Lari Rouvinen | Oiva Rytkönen | Iida Saarela | Melissa Sende | Nóra Somos | Taika Sorjonen | Alva Strang & Rafael Denisov | Leo Terävä & Aliina Kemppainen | tibs | Vilma Tietäväinen | Aura Tiira | Veikka “pvp” Toivari | Sani Tolonen | Victoria Torboli | Siiri Torvinen | Siiri Turpeinen | Johan Urrutia | Sofia Vuorenmaa | Helmi Westerlund | xyny | Mira Özdemir

The Generation triennial, now held for the fourth time, brings together 50 artists and collectives. The artists and works selected for Generation 2026 offer an unfiltered view into the concerns, struggles and dreams of today’s young artists. They blur the boundaries between traditional art genres and invite us to confront the most pressing social questions of our time. The creativity of these 15–23-year-old artists is multidisciplinary, bold and unapologetically confident.

The Generation 2026 artists explore identity, community, belonging and power structures — while questioning the norms and diverse forms of control that surround us. Many seek connection to their background and cultural heritage, reflecting also on nature, the environmental crisis or turning their gaze to the past. Amplifying marginalised voices, examining the impact of technology, and using humour and absurdity as tools of resistance, these artists show us a generation that views the world with critical eyes — and carves out its own place in it, openly and without compromise.

The group exhibition Generation 2026 opens at Amos Rex in May 2026.

The Gen­er­a­tion 2026 artists offer a per­spec­tive that often slips past older gen­er­a­tions

The jury’s role was not just to assess artistic quality but to listen and try to understand a new generation’s voice. We set out to portray this generation through its art, and the selection offers a window into their lucid perspective – one that is often ungraspable to older generations. In its energy and defiance, it captures a time of transformation, a moment to rise up, challenge norms and imagine new possibilities.

— Harold Hejazi, the Chair of Generation 2026 jury writes in his end statement. Read the whole thing and learn what’s coming next in the fields of arts!

Jury

Generation 2026 -juryn puheenjohtaja Harold Hejazi. Kuva: Stella Ojala / Amos Rex

Gen­er­a­tion 2026 Jury

The Generation 2026 jury is chaired by Canadian artist, game designer, and educator Harold Hejazi. Working extensively in participatory performing arts, game design, and community engagement, Hejazi, who is based in Helsinki, has in recent years explored the use of video games in theatre, addressing themes such as race, marginalisation, and contemporary multiculturalism.

Representing Amos Rex on the jury are museum director Kieran Long, assistant curator Krista Mamia, curator of public programmes Laura Porola, and exhibition assistant Inna Schwanck. The Generation 2023 artists are represented by Yoonsik Kim and Aino Kontinen. Aino Kontinen works with writing, performing arts, and lens-based art, while Yoonsik Kim operates at the intersection of fashion and art.

What is Gen­er­a­tion?

Generation at Amos Rex is a triennial—a recurring intervention and a group show by young artists in the art world. The exhibition showcases artists aged 15 to 23 and their works, offering a pulse check on a whole generation and their artistic expression.

The call for proposals for Generation 2026 was open in October 2024. This time, applications were invited from artists and collectives born between 2001 and 2009, who are either based in Finland or have a connection to the country. The artists and collectives for the 2026 exhibition were selected from 647 applications, which proposed a total of 1,141 works. The final selection was made by a jury of seven members.

The application period was closed on 31 October 2024.