Imatrankoski Rapids

The Rapids shows in 2026:

• Sat 23 May at 18:00 – Imatrankoski Summer Opening Event and Imatra Rally
• Sat 6 and Sun 7 June at 18:00
• Sat 13 and Sun 14 June at 18:00
• Wed 24 – Sun 28 June at 18:00
• From 1 July to 31 August: Wednesday to Sunday at 18:00
• Fri 23 and Sat 24 October, as well as Fri 30 and Sat 31 October – Finnish school autumn holiday week

Exceptions:

• During the Imatranajo event from July 2–5:
  • Thu 2 July at 7:00 PM (bridge closed from 6:50 PM to approximately 7:25/7:30 PM)
  • Fri 3 July at 8:30 PM (bridge closed from 8:20 PM to approximately 8:55/9:00 PM)
  • Sat 4 July at 8:20 PM (bridge closed from 8:10 PM to 8:50 PM)
  • Sun 5 July at 11:15 AM (bridge closed from 11:10 AM to 11:40 AM)
• Fri 10 July: due to the Saimaa Cycle Tour 2026 event, there will be no official rapid show. The rapids will flow randomly without a schedule. During the event period from July 10–17, there will also be no music due to the event.
• Tue 11 August at 6:00 PM – rapid show

Changes to the schedule are possible. It is always advisable to check the schedule closer to the planned date imatrankoski.fi

Imatrankoski rapids were formed 5,000 years ago when the land rose after the Ice Age and Lake Saimaa waters tore the Salpauselkä ridge apart. Imatrankoski was a famous tourist attraction already 300 years ago, and at the end of the 19th century, it was considered one of Europe’s most popular attractions. Many famous people visited Imatrankoski at that time and the tourism in Imatra is considered to have begun in 1772 when Empress Catherine II of Russia and her retinue came to admire this magnificent play of the water in the narrow waterway.

The Rapids show lasts approx. 16 minutes. Eight minutes after the flood gates are opened, the foams reach their peak with an average of 400 cubic metres of water per second flowing in the stream. In the summer surge of the rapids will be accompanied by music of Jean Sibelius or the Whitewater Symphony by the Osmo's Cosmos band.

Rapids are nowadays blocked by a dam, but during the summer there are daily shows when the dam is opened. The show is a very popular and free event gathering always hundreds of people to see magnificent nature show. Imatrankoski Rapids is also part of Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark. Read more