Apply to
volunteer

7.-13.6.2027

Application period: 14 December 2026–14 February 2027

Kuopio Dance Festival would not be possible without our volunteers! Come join our team and help us create, experience and make an unforgettable festival together. As a volunteer, you are an important part of the KTS community and the festival atmosphere. You will get to see behind the scenes, meet new people and experience an international dance festival from the front row. Whether this is your first time volunteering or you are already an experienced festival volunteer, you are warmly welcome to join us! We hope you’ll be able to volunteer for the entire festival.

Kuopio Dance Festival is known for its smooth organisation, friendly service and genuine enthusiasm that spreads from one person to another. In return for your contribution, you will receive a festival wristband. With the wristband, you can attend paid performances and take part in courses free of charge, subject to availability. And, of course, we will celebrate the end of the festival together!

Volunteer training will take place approximately one week before the festival starts, and participation is mandatory for all volunteers. Some of the tasks require also Finnish language skills, but not all. If you are coming from outside Kuopio and need accommodation, you can ask if the festival could arrange accommodation for you.

We are looking for volunteers for the following teams:

Join us in setting up the festival before the first performances and taking everything down after the festival! The tasks include building, decorating, moving equipment and other practical jobs, so the work is partly physical. As a member of this team, you’ll receive more free time during the festival week.

The Service Team is always there when help is needed! You will assist the production team with practical day-to-day tasks and help make sure everything runs smoothly. Your tasks may include driving, moving equipment and materials, picking up supplies and helping with other production tasks that come up during the festival. The tasks vary from day to day, so this role is a good fit for someone who is flexible, proactive and happy to help wherever needed. A valid B driving licence is preferred. In this role, you will be right at the heart of the festival production!

As a host, you will be the main contact person for an international artist group throughout the festival. You will help make sure their stay in Kuopio and at the festival is as smooth and enjoyable as possible, also outside their performances. Your tasks includes welcoming and accompanying the group, helping with schedules and transportation, assisting with practical matters and communicating with the production team. In this task you’ll have the opportunity to meet international dance professionals and get a behind-the-scenes look at the festival! Good English skills and good knowledge of Kuopio are required.

Would you like to see what happens behind the scenes and help our performing groups with practical tasks? As part of the backstage team, you will help with refreshments during breaks, costume care (simple sewing tasks), laundry and other daily tasks. You will be an important part of the team and help make sure the artists can focus on what they do best – performing!

At our Shop & Info points, you are one of the faces of the festival and an important part of the visitor experience. You will help visitors with questions about tickets and the festival programme, sell festival merchandise and make sure that visitors receive friendly and helpful service. This role is a good fit for someone who is outgoing, service-minded and enjoys meeting people and creating a positive festival atmosphere.

As a Media Team Assistant, you will help create content and visibility for the festival, especially on social media. Tasks may include taking photos and videos and collecting content from different parts of the festival. You will get to experience the festival from close by and see how content is created behind the scenes. This role is usually combined with another volunteer role.

As a Course Assistant, you will help make sure that the course days run smoothly. Your tasks include welcoming participants, helping the teacher when needed, taking care of practical arrangements and keeping the course space tidy. This role is a good fit for someone who is friendly, reliable and proactive, enjoys meeting people and is happy to help with different tasks.

As a host, you will take care of your group throughout their visit and help make their festival experience as smooth as possible. Your tasks may include accompanying the group from their accommodation to courses, meals and performances, as well as being a contact person between the group, teachers and course assistants. This role is a good fit for someone who is responsible and caring, enjoys spending time with young people and knows Kuopio well. Some hosts may have the opportunity to stay at the accommodation school during the festival. Please mention this wish in your application.

This role is all about having fun and being ready to throw yourself into the action! As a festival mascot, you will bring joy, energy and a little bit of craziness to the festival. The role is perfect for someone who is confident, playful and has a good sense of humour. You will meet visitors, take photos, dance and help create a fun festival atmosphere. Due to the size of the costumes, you need to be over 160 cm tall. The mascot role can easily be combined with another volunteer role.

As a door volunteer, you will welcome performers to the venue, help them find their way around and, together with the rest of the team, make sure that everything runs smoothly. This role is a good fit for someone who is friendly, calm and service-minded and enjoys a more relaxed working environment.

As a cloakroom volunteer, you will welcome visitors and take care of their coats and belongings during performances. You will meet many different people and play an important role in creating a smooth and friendly festival experience.

Join us in doing important work for the future of the festival! As a member of the Customer Survey Team, you will collect feedback about our visitors’ experiences and help us develop the festival further. You will move around among the audience and encourage visitors to complete a survey on a tablet. Whenever possible, the surveys will be done in pairs. This role is a good fit for someone who is confident, friendly and approachable and enjoys meeting people.


More roles will be added as our plans develop, so please check the website for updates.

Some roles can also be combined, giving you a more varied and interesting volunteer experience. We hope you are flexible, a team player and enthusiastic about customer service, with good English skills. We will give priority to volunteers who can commit to the entire festival period. Some roles will start 1–2 days before the festival begins. The length of shifts varies depending on the role, but most shifts are a few hours per day.

Applications open 14th December
© Niko Puumalainen
© Niko Puumalainen

More information:
production(at)kuopiodancefestival.fi
+358 50 322 5220

The organizer reserves the right to make changes.