National Inventory
The National Inventory of Living Heritage comprises 86 elements at present. It is a next step from the Wiki-inventory of Living Heritage. The call for new inscriptions is open till 16th March 2026.
Elements within the Wiki-inventory can be suggested for the National inventory of Living Heritage. There are a total of 86 elements in the Finnish National inventory of Living Heritage nominated by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The National inventory is based on the proposal by the Finnish Heritage Agency with the Advisory group of intangible cultural heritage. Communities and organizations active in the field of intangible cultural heritage have also been commenting on the submissions. Articles in the National Inventory need to be updated every three years.
The National Inventory of Living Heritage covers a wide selection of fields within intangible cultural heritage from nearly all parts of Finland. The National Inventory includes several traditional festivities, such as taking candles to the cemetery on Christmas Eve, the declaration of Christmas Peace in Turku, the conferment of master’s degrees and the lighting of Easter Fires. There is also a wide range of handicrafts in the inventory: glass blowing, the Korsnäs sweater and the making of national costumes. The inventory includes several nature-related elements, such as snow games, mushroom picking and building and sailing on clinker boats. Performing arts also feature in the inventory: the Kaustinen style of playing the fiddle, Finnish tango, the singing tradition of the Roma people, the minuet and open air dancing. The list also includes food traditions, games and oral traditions.
The selection of an element into the National Inventory of Living Heritage is a recognition to the communities that work with the traditions. The National Inventory also brings more visibility to the elements.
Elements inscribed in the UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage lists must be included in the National Inventory. This does not apply to the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices of UNESCO. The next application round in Finland for UNESCO will be held in the fall of 2026, focusing on good safeguarding practices.
More information
- Read more about the elements inscribed in 2023 (pdf).
- Read more about the elements inscribed in 2020 (pdf).
- Read more about the elements inscribed in 2017 (pdf).
- Here you can find instructions for applicants and the evaluation criteria for 2026 (pdf).
- See the questions for the National Inventory of Living Heritage 2026 (pdf).
- Apply for the National Inventory through this link in the Wiki-inventory.
Contact
Leena Marsio, Finnish Heritage Agency, leena.marsio(at)museovirasto.fi, tel. +358 (0)295 33 6017
