100th anniversary of the Sibelius Museum
We are celebrating the 100th anniversary! November 2026 will mark exactly 100 years since Otto Andersson (1879–1969) was appointed as the first professor of musicology and folklore studies at Åbo Akademi University. From this moment on, the collections of musical history and cultural research archives of Åbo Akademi University began to take shape. In 1949, the collections of musical history were given the name Sibelius Museum.
The anniversary year will be celebrated with a rich program of events in addition to the museum’s regular program. The anniversary program will be updated continuously throughout the year.
Anniversary exhibition “100 Years of Musical Traces“
The year kicks off with the exhibition “100 Years of Musical Traces,” which will run throughout the anniversary year from 29 January, 2026, to 3 January, 2027. The exhibition presents the 100-year history of the Sibelius Museum’s collections from 1926 to 2026 and tells the story of the people who have influenced the museum and its present day. Read more about the exhibition here.
100 år av klang, kunskap och kulturarv
This year, we are celebrating a century of shared history! The intertwined histories of the Sibelius Museum and the musicology and folklore departments at Åbo Akademi University provide an opportunity to celebrate a hundred years of collaboration, development, and cultural heritage. The anniversary year will be marked by a series of events – co-created by the Museum and the University – entitled “100 år av klang, kunskap och kulturarv” (100 years of science, art and tradition), in which music, science and imagination come together in the spirit of Otto Andersson.
I länstolen – In the Armchair
Throughout the year, there will be several events where armchair discussions alternate with various performances. The discussions are organized in collaboration with Åbo Akademi University and demonstrate how science and cultural heritage continue to live and develop. Please note that the programme is in Swedish and Finnish.
4.2 Marianne Maans och Marjaana Puurtinen. Discussion and concert in the footsteps of Otto Andersson.
10.4 Alfred Backa. Discussion and comedy performance.
11.9 Månskensbonden. Discussion and songs in the Ostrobothnian dialect.
30.10 Maria Turtschaninoff. Discussion on folklore and fantasy literature.
9.12 Lucia. Discussion and show.
Kunskapskabarén
The popular Kunskapskabarén, produced in collaboration with Åbo Svenska Teater, returns with its improvisational theatre in the fall of 2026. More information coming soon!
Exhibition on Folklore studies and Musicology
In the fall, the academic disciplines of folklore and musicology, for which Otto Andersson laid the foundation at Åbo Akademi University, will be the topic of an exhibition at the Sibelius Museum.
The events forming “100 år av klang, kunskap och kulturarv” are organized in collaboration with the departments of musicology and folklore studies at Åbo Akademi University. The program will be updated continuously throughout the year.
100 music manuscripts available to all
During the anniversary year, the Sibelius Museum will publish 100 selected musical manuscripts from its collections. The manuscripts will be made available on the Finna service. Most of the manuscripts are by lesser-known composers, and many of them have never been published before. They mainly include works for smaller ensembles, but there are also orchestral works and stage music.
Object of the month
Every month, we present an “object of the month” from the museum’s collections on our website. Read the articles already published here.
A look back at the past on social media
Over the course of the anniversary year, we will be highlighting interesting events from the Sibelius Museum’s 100-year history on social media. Posts will always be published on the date corresponding with the events described in the post. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Anniversary coffee on 28 November
27 November, 2026, marks exactly 100 years since Otto Andersson was appointed the first professor of musicology and folklore at Åbo Akademi University. This also marked the beginning of the collections now known as the Sibelius Museum.
In honour of the anniversary, we invite museum visitors for coffee and cake at 12:00 noon the following day, Saturday 28 November! Music will also be provided during the afternoon. The performers will be musicians from the Akademiska Orkestern symphony orchestra and the Brahe Djäknar and Florakören student choirs, which operate under the auspices of Åbo Akademi University. Free admission to the museum all day!
Concert series
The Sibelius Museum’s concert series Sibbe Live! and Fredagar på Sibbe will continue as usual during the anniversary year, offering the public a wide range of musical experiences. Check out all the events here!