European Taiwan Cultural Year 2025: F:F:F—Formosa : Finland : Fest. debuts in Finland

Music speaks beyond words. In 2025, the European Taiwan Cultural Year brings us in harmony with Europe through music.

Europe has been a cradle of global civilization, shaping cultural trends since the Renaissance. To make culture the bridge through which Europe comes to know Taiwan, our journey begins in the classical music heartland of Germany and Austria, where Taiwan’s Ambassador to Austria, Liu Suan-Yung, will take the stage at Vienna’s Musikverein with a trombone performance. From there, we travel north to Finland, the icy Nordic nation renowned for musical innovation, where Taiwan’s Ambassador to Finland, Lim Tshiong-Tso (Freddy Lim), will shatter the silence of the night with heavy metal—showcasing the bold power of Taiwan’s cultural voice.

Finland is home to the highest density of heavy-metal bands in the world. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and GACC are jointly presenting F:F:F—Formosa : Finland : Fest., a music festival. The colons in the name symbolize dialogue, connection, and collaboration, bringing together Taiwan, a small mountainous island, and Finland, the land of a thousand lakes. Through voices and instruments, the two cultures will meet on stage, reflecting, resonating, and co-creating something new.

This special event brings together six musical acts from Taiwan and Finland for a collaborative performance. Taiwanese fashion designers, visual artists, and culinary creatives will also take part. Together, we hope to plant the first Nordic seed of Taiwanese culture in Finland. Carried by the winds of music, this seed is expected to take root across Europe and foster long-term partnerships and meaningful cultural connections between Taiwan and the Europe.

Since its launch, the European Taiwan Cultural Year 2025 has held over 70 Taiwanese arts and culture events across 26 European countries, fulfilling our commitment to cultural diplomacy. With F:F:F—Formosa : Finland : Fest., Taiwan’s musical energy takes center stage in Europe. Amid the growls and soaring melodies of heavy metal, a distinctive Taiwanese sound will rise—one that echoes our shared commitment with Europe to democracy, freedom, diversity, and universal human rights.