Would you like to experience something new and develop your skills? Are you interested in expanding your international network with other vocational students and professionals?
Taitaja2026 – The Finnish National Skills Competition in Keski-Uusimaa, May 18th – 21th 2026 offers a chance to do both and much more!
The competitors in the Finnish National Championship Taitaja2026 are to be 22 years of age or younger during the year of the competition, and study for a vocational upper secondary qualification at a vocational institution in Finland. The official languages of the competition are Finland’s official languages, Finnish and Swedish.
The competition for the Finnish championship includes approximately 50 skills and over 400 competitors
Each year we host some international guest competitors to Taitaja.
Certain skills in the Taitaja2026 competition are open for international guest competitors from all around the world. The event will function as an international rehearsal for future Skills competitions. We are offering your organisation a chance to send your students, WorldSkills 2026 competitors and experts to join the event.
Please note that all applicants are not automatically accepted to participate in the competition, but everybody will be notified of their application results.
In order to maker participation easier for international competitors and related experts we are planning to offer a package to purchase. Package would contain accomodation, transportation and a special program for international guests.
Taitaja2026 offers an opportunity to enjoy an interesting program, find inspiration in Finnish top expertise, and to build networks with other VET specialists and organisations. The main venue of the event is the Tuusula Sports Center, located near the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
We welcome WorldSkills 2026 competitors as well as international students to participate as guest competitors! International Skills experts are also welcome to join alongside their competitors.
Applications for competitors and joining experts will open on 2 December 2025 and will remain open until 18 January 2026. To apply, please contact your national Skills organization.
Please note that submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance. All applicants will be notified of their application results after the application deadline.
Taitaja2026 Package
The Taitaja2026 competition package offers a simple solution for visiting Taitaja2026 in Tuusula. All international competitors and related experts are required to purchase the package.
Applications for competitors and experts will 2nd of December 2025 and remain open until 18th of January 2026. To apply, please contact your national Skills organization.
Please note that submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance. All applicants will be notified of their application results after the application deadline.
Taitaja2026 Package includes:
✈️ Please note: The package does not include flights or visa costs.
102 Autobody Repair – 13 Autobody Repair
203 Graphic Design – 40 Graphic Design Technology
208 Game Production –50 3D Digital Game Art
301 Retail Sales – PO5 Retail Sales
302 Hairdressing – 29 Hairdressing
303 Beauty Therapy – 30 Beauty Therapy
307 Fashion Technology – 31 Fashion Technology
312 Tourism Services – 56 Hotel Reception
404 Painting and Decorating – 22 Painting and Decorating
405 Plumbing and Heating – 15 Plumbing and Heating
502 Cooking – 34 Cooking
601 Industrial Control – 19 Industrial Control
603 CNC Machining – 06 CNC-turning
604 Laboratory Technology – 52 Chemical Laboratory Technology
605 Welding – 10 Welding
Application is open from December 2nd 2025 until January 18th 2026.
Applicants will be notified about competitor selections by February 16th 2026 at the latest. The selected competitors and experts will receive instructions for package enrollment and payment after acceptance.
The Taitaja2026 package invoice for international competitors and experts has to be paid by the end of February 2026. Unpaid packages will lead to participation cancellation.
Mr Janne Jousiaho
Competition Manager, Taitaja2026
+358 50 088 7377
-Application process,
-Practical matters related to Taitaja2026 competition
Ms Teija Ripattila
Chief Training Manager, Skills Finland
teija.ripattila@skillsfinland.fi
+358 40 455 2020
– Skills Network
