Love Is in the Air, and Finland Is Paying for the Flight
By Amaya Perera
Singles worldwide, including Sri Lankans, can apply for an all-expenses-paid four-day trip to Finland, complete with cultural experiences and the possibility of meeting someone special.
What if your next dinner date came with a free flight to Finland? For singles willing to take their chances on love, Finland is offering something rather unusual: an opportunity to travel to one of the world's happiest countries, experience its food and culture, and perhaps meet someone special along the way. The country's official tourism organization, Visit Finland, has launched Finnish Dinner Date, an international campaign inviting single adults from around the world, including Sri Lanka, to apply for a fully sponsored four-day trip in February 2027. A total of 16 international participants will be selected for the experience, which combines Finnish hospitality, cultural exploration and group dinner dates with local singles. The organizers will cover flights, accommodation, meals and scheduled activities, leaving participants to focus on enjoying the experience and making new connections.
A Dinner Date With a Finnish Twist
The initiative takes inspiration from Finland's unusual dating trend known as Sinkkukori, meaning "single basket". The concept involves shoppers using distinctive pink supermarket baskets to discreetly signal that they are single and potentially interested in meeting someone. Visit Finland has taken this idea beyond supermarket aisles, turning it into an international tourism campaign designed to introduce visitors to Finnish food culture while encouraging meaningful social interactions.
The experience will take place between 9 and 19 February 2027, with selected participants travelling to Finland for four days. Eight international participants will be assigned to each of two destinations, where they will be joined by local Finnish singles for a specially arranged group dinner. According to the campaign's application information, the final dinner date will take place in either the Helsinki region or Lakeland, offering participants an opportunity to discover Finnish cuisine, explore local traditions and engage in conversations that might lead to lasting connections.
Although romance is central to the campaign's appeal, the organisers make no promises that participants will find a partner. Instead, the initiative presents a more relaxed approach to meeting people, encouraging visitors to discover a new culture through shared experiences rather than the conventional pressures of modern dating.
Who Can Apply?
The campaign is open to single adults aged 18 and above from anywhere in the world, provided they are not residents of Finland. This means eligible Sri Lankans can apply, with no requirement to already know someone in Finland or have previous experience travelling to the country. Applications must be submitted individually, and candidates will be considered through an application process that includes a short video challenge.
Unlike conventional travel competitions, applicants are not required to write lengthy essays or submit elaborate travel itineraries. Instead, Visit Finland wants to know how they would approach one of the most familiar aspects of dating: sharing a meal. Applicants must answer one question: "What would you serve on a dinner date, and why?" The response must be presented in a short video recorded in English, allowing applicants to showcase their personality, creativity and approach to a memorable dining experience.
How to Apply for the Free Trip
Interested individuals must first record an English-language video explaining what they would serve on a dinner date and why they would choose that particular dish. The video must then be uploaded to Instagram, TikTok or YouTube using the hashtag #FinnishDinnerDate, with Visit Finland tagged in the post. Once the video has been published, applicants must visit the official campaign website, complete the online application form and provide a direct link to their submission.
Applicants using Instagram or TikTok must ensure their accounts are public so the organisers can access their videos. Those who prefer to keep their submissions relatively private may upload their videos to YouTube using the Unlisted setting, which allows anyone with the direct link to view the content without making it publicly searchable. Importantly, uploading a video alone does not constitute a completed application. Candidates must submit both the video and the official online form to be considered for selection.
Application Deadline and Important Dates
Applications will close on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, at 11.59 a.m. Finnish time (EET), which corresponds to 3.29 p.m. in Sri Lanka on the same day. Late submissions will not be considered, and applicants are encouraged to complete the process well ahead of the deadline to avoid technical difficulties or last-minute complications.
According to the campaign information, the 16 successful participants are scheduled to be announced on 1 December 2026, while the trips will take place between 9 and 19 February 2027. Submitting an application does not guarantee selection, and applicants should not expect a separate email confirming that their application has been received.
What Does the All-Expenses-Paid Experience Include?
Successful applicants will receive international flights, accommodation, meals and organized activities during their four-day stay in Finland. The programme is intended to offer visitors an introduction to Finnish culture, with particular emphasis on the country's culinary traditions, hospitality and approach to social interaction. The highlight will be a group dinner date bringing together international participants and Finnish singles in an environment designed to encourage conversation and connection.
For Sri Lankan applicants, the campaign presents an unusual opportunity to experience Finland during its winter season without having to finance the main travel arrangements. However, applicants should carefully review the official terms and conditions for information about travel documentation, visa requirements, personal expenses and any additional costs that may not be covered by the organizers.
Where to Apply
Interested applicants can submit their entries through the official campaign website, FinnishDinnerDate.com, or access the application information through Visit Finland's official website. The organizers have also published detailed terms and conditions outlining the eligibility requirements and application process.
With applications closing on 10 November, interested singles have a limited window to prepare their videos and submit their entries. Whether the experience results in romance, friendship or simply a memorable journey, the campaign offers a refreshing interpretation of modern dating. After all, in an age of endless swiping and carefully curated online profiles, perhaps the most interesting way to meet someone is still to sit across a table, share a meal and start a conversation.
And this time, Finland is picking up the travel bill.
