Shelter 2026 also invites the public to take part: follow the exercise via a live broadcast and come explore the Luola Cave, transformed into a civil defense shelter!
The Shelter 2026 civil defense exercise taking place in Kuopio can be followed even if you are not otherwise participating in it. A live broadcast from the exercise will be streamed on the City of Kuopio’s Vimeo and YouTube channels on Wednesday, 2 September, approximately from 12 noon to 2 p.m. In addition, an open house event will be held at the Savilahti Luola Cave on Wednesday, 2 September, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., after the exercise. The event is open to everyone interested.
The live broadcast will give viewers a chance to follow the events unfolding inside the Luola, where more than 2 000 participants will be practicing entry into a civil defense shelter and shelter operations. The broadcast offers a unique opportunity to see the exercise from the inside. It will also feature interviews with safety and security experts, as well as first-hand impressions and experiences from participants on site.
At the open house event, everyone interested is welcome to learn about civil defense, emergency preparedness and home emergency supplies, as well as see for themselves what the Luola looks like when converted for use as a civil defense shelter. Experts from public authorities and organizations will be on site to present their work and answer questions from visitors.
The exercise is exceptional in scale for the whole of Finland
Shelter 2026 will bring more than 2 000 participants to the Savilahti Luola on 2-3 September to test the protection of a large population, cooperation between authorities and practical civil defense operating models. The exercise is exceptional in scale and is the largest of its kind seen in Finland in decades.
The Savilahti Luola, which serves as the venue for the exercise, is one of Europe’s most modern dual-use civil defense shelters. In everyday use, the Luola functions as a sports and events facility, but it can be converted into a civil defense shelter for approximately 7 000 people when needed. The facility has attracted considerable international interest, and in recent years it has been visited by security experts, public authorities and decision-makers from around the world. As a result, the exercise will also be attended by a significant number of international guests and media representatives.
The aim of the exercise is to strengthen preparedness for responding to various disruptions and emergency conditions, while also gathering experiences and lessons learned to further develop civil defense and preparedness measures. The results and materials produced during the exercise will be used in future civil defense training and national development efforts.
Suojaan 2026 will be visible in the Savilahti area as increased authority activity, exercise equipment, and large numbers of people, particularly on Wednesday, 2 September. The exercise is a pre-planned training event and is not related to any real threat or emergency situation.
Shelter 2026 in brief:
- Exercise: 2.–3.9.2026
- Place: Savilahti Luola, Kuopio
- Participants: more than 2 000 people
- Live broadcast 2.9. at 12–14:
- Open House: 2.9.2026 at 17–19, Savilahti Luola (Loistekatu 12)
- Additional information: www.kuopio.fi/suojaan2026
