A Pristine White Christmas on the Arctic Circle: Rovaniemi Prepares for the 61st Arctic Lapland Rally
While the rest of Finland remains cloaked in a wet early winter, Rovaniemi has already donned its gala attire. The landscape is a study in crystalline white, radiating that world-renowned Lapland sorcery.
Winter at the Arctic Circle is a picturesque backdrop for a serious logistical ballet; organizers of the Arctic Lapland Rally have spent the early season dancing with the elements, ploughing roads with relentless precision to ensure the road foundations freeze into a bedrock of impenetrable ice.
Meanwhile, the frozen wilderness roads of the north have already begun to pulse with the sound of high-performance machinery. Printsport, one of the Finnish top Rally2 outfits helmed by Eero Räikkönen, has been among the early arrivals, putting clients through their paces under the Arctic sun. Lapland offers an unparalleled theater for testing next-season hardware long before the rest of the world — whether the winter’s ambitions lie on Finnish soil or the international stage.
The Game is on: Entries Begin to Flow
Registration for the 61st edition of the legendary Arctic Lapland Rally, set for late January, opened its entries at the start of December. The roster is already beginning to fill. Over the decades, the starting ramp at Lordi’s Square has hosted more than just the heroes of the Finnish Championship; it has been a pilgrimage site for international stars and high-octane adventurers alike. With the WRC Rally Sweden looming just a fortnight later on the calendar, the allure of Rovaniemi as a proving ground is perhaps more potent than ever.
In rallying circles, the closing of the entries to Rovaniemi is a moment of breathless anticipation. Only then are all the gladiators finally revealed—those brave enough to accept the Arctic Circle’s frozen challenge. The deadline for this year’s roll call is January 19, 2026, at 10:00 PM Finnish time.
Accessible High North
Reaching the Arctic capital has never been a more seamless affair. This winter marks a historic zenith for Rovaniemi’s connectivity, with a record number of international flights touching down on its snowy runways. For those preferring the romance of the rails, the journey from the south has been elevated by the introduction of the Pendolino Plus, offering a sophisticated transit as far as Oulu.
Prospective guests seeking to curate their journey or secure a fireside retreat can find a wealth of resources through Visit Rovaniemi at visitrovaniemi.fi
The organizers of Arctic Lapland Rally and the Finnish Rally Championship extend a warm welcome to competitors and spectators alike as we convene for our 61st consecutive year on the Arctic Circle.
