Yle celebrates 100 years of radio religious services

Yle, Finland’s national broadcaster, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its radio religious services. The program is the oldest in Yle’s history, with the first broadcast occurring on September 12, 1926, shortly after the broadcaster began operations.

To mark the centenary, special jubilee services will be broadcast on September 13, 2026. A Finnish-language service will be held at Tampere Cathedral, the site of the first Finnish radio service, featuring Archbishop Tapio Luoma as the preacher. This service will be broadcast live on Yle Radio 1 and Yle TV1.

A Swedish-language service will be held at Johannes Church in Helsinki, the location of the first Swedish radio service. This program will be broadcast on Yle Vega. Additionally, a discussion program titled ‘Finland’s Largest Congregation’ will air on Yle Radio 1, exploring the significance and future of radio sermons and the role of the church in society.