Event Invitation
International orienteering relay competitions, the 77th Jukola relay and the 48th Venla relay, Kotka-Jukola, 13–14 June 2026 in Kotka.
Organised by Kymin Suunnistajat ry and Vehkalahden Veikot ry.
The competition instructions for the Kotka-Jukola competition, as well as the event programme and a “Guide to Kotka-Jukola”, will be published as electronic versions. All competitors are asked to download these beforehand.
48th Venla relay
An orienteering relay competition with four legs for women’s teams from orienteering clubs and other associations.
The winning team will be awarded the challenge trophy “Lintukoto” (“Bird home”), donated by the Kaukametsäläiset association.
| Leg | Estimated distance | Estimated time | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8.0 km | 49 min | 115 m |
| 2. | 10.1 km | 63 min | 140 m |
| 3. | 6.1 km | 37 min | 80 m |
| 4. | 9.1 km | 55 min | 150 m |
| Total | 33.3 km | 3 h 24 min | 485 m |
Forking is used in all legs. The race starts with a mass start at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, 13 June 2026.
77th Jukola relay
An orienteering relay competition with seven legs for teams from orienteering clubs and other associations.
The winning team will be awarded the challenge trophy “Havuoksa, rauhan viiri” (“Conifer branch, a pennon of peace”), donated by the Kaukametsäläiset association.
| Leg | Estimated distance | Estimated time | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 13.0 km dusk/dark | 73 min | 125 m |
| 2. | 11.1 km dark | 63 min | 115 m |
| 3. | 14.8 km dark/dusk | 82 min | 175 m |
| 4. | 7.0 km dusk | 40 min | 90 m |
| 5. | 7.9 km daylight | 42 min | 90 m |
| 6. | 11.8 km daylight | 63 min | 150 m |
| 7. | 15.9 km daylight | 84 min | 195 m |
| Total | 81.5 km | 7 h 27 min | 940 m |
Forking is used in all legs. The sun sets at 10:41 p.m. on Saturday, 13 June 2026 and rises at 3:44 a.m. on Sunday, 14 June 2026. The race starts with a mass start at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, 13 June 2026.
General Information
The event is regulated by the rules of the Finnish Orienteering Federation (FOF) and the instructions provided by the organiser.
The rules of the FOF are available on the FOF website: www.suunnistusliitto.fi. The use of spiked shoes is prohibited, but shoes with studs are permitted. GPS trackers will be allocated to chosen teams and must be worn throughout the competition. The chosen teams named by the organisers will use numbered vests. The embargoed area can be found here: Embargoed Area Map
Competition Map and Punching
Digitally printed orienteering map, scale 1:10,000, contour interval 2.5 m, ISOM2017. Mapped by Janne Weckman. The map is sealed in plastic. The electronic Emit punching system will be used.
Eligibility to Participate
Participants are not required to obtain a Finnish Orienteering Federation license. It is the responsibility of the clubs and the competing members to ensure that all personal data is correct. Both men and women can participate in the Jukola Relay, including those women also competing in the Venla Relay.
The teams of associations (meaning teams other than orienteering clubs) are allowed to have no more than two first-class orienteers aged between 17 and 39 years. For women this limitation applies only in the Venla Relay. Only teams affiliated with official orienteering clubs are eligible to compete for podium positions or points for the challenge trophy.
Foreign orienteers are reminded that in Finland one may compete for only one club during the competition season (1 January – 31 December). All members of a team must represent the same club. Only competitors born in 2011 or earlier are eligible to participate. Running an underage competitor will result in the disqualification of the team.
Registration and payment
The registration process opens on October 10th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. on Jukola’s website. The contact person for the club will do the enrolment and pay for the teams in the electronic enrolment system. Registering the teams happens as follows:
- The contact person for the club creates a personal Jukola account at jukola.com
- The contact person logs in to the enrolment system with his/her Jukola account
- The contact person enrols the teams and pays for the teams and extra services in the system
NB: An invitation link and detailed instructions for enrolment will be sent by e-mail in October 2025 to all the clubs and associations who participated in Mikkeli-Jukola 2025.
Each team must have at least four (4) Emit cards in the Jukola Relay and three (3) in the Venla Relay. The same Emit cards may not be used by two different teams in the same relay. However, the same Emit card can be used in both the Jukola and the Venla Relays. Emit cards can be rented from the organisers until May 7th, 2026 for 20 € per card. After this date, the rental price will be 40 € per card. The required number of rental cards must be indicated when registering. Emit card numbers do not need to be reported in advance; they will be registered into the result system at the competition centre when entering the start/changeover area.
The schedule for registration, entry fees and other advance payments are shown in the table below. Payment must be made online at the time of registration or reservation. If a reservation is not paid within the valid price category dates, the next price category fee will be charged. After the registration has been paid, any changes require extra work from the organisers and a processing fee of 20 €/change will be charged. All clubs are asked to carefully check all details when registering teams and paying.
Entry fees
| by Thu 15.1.2026 until 11:59 p.m. | by Thu 7.5.2026 until 11:59 p.m. | by Thu 28.5.2026 until 11:59 p.m. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venla / team | 220 € | 275 € | 400 € |
| Jukola / team | 385 € | 485 € | 695 € |
A team has the right to cancel their participation before May 7th, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The entry fee will be refunded, but a processing fee of 20 € per cancelled team will be charged. After May 7th, 2026, the entry fee will not be refunded. Participation and cancellation of extra services can be made by sending an e-mail to the general secretary: .
The starting order of teams registered before May 7th, 2026 is determined by the results from the previous year’s Jukola. Teams registered and paid later will be placed at the end of the starting list. Teams disqualified or not finished in Mikkeli-Jukola will also be drawn to the end of the list. The organiser reserves the right to assign smaller free numbers to disqualified teams. Questions regarding starting lists should be addressed to the technical advisor: .
Other fees
| by Thu 7.5.2026 | by Thu 28.5.2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Camping pitch 10m × 10m | 40–65 € | 70–85 € |
| Tent provided by organiser | 290 € | 520 € |
| Wind shelter pitch 6 m × 5 m | 65 € | 100 € |
| Camper / Caravan | 60 € | 115 € |
| Emit-card rent | 20 € | 40 € |
The parking fee for a car, motorcycle or moped is 20 € when purchased through the electronic system. If bought at the competition info, the fee is 25 €, and 30 € if invoiced afterwards.
Running order
The running orders of teams are entered into the electronic enrolment system either during the entry or later. The running orders for both relays, the Jukola and the Venla, must be entered into the electronic enrolment system by:
- teams number 1–100 on Thursday, 11th of June 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
- other teams on Friday, 12th of June 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
The running order can be entered as public or non-public; in the latter case, it will become public:
- for teams number 1–100 on Thursday, 11th of June 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
- for other teams on Friday, 12th of June 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Late registration of the running order will result in a penalty of 100 €. After entering into the system, changes can only be made in exceptional circumstances. Changes will be approved by the competition’s technical advisor (TA). More specific information will be published in June 2026 in the Competition Information on the website of Kotka-Jukola.
Number bibs (note: no safety pins are provided by the organisers) and other team-specific competition material will not be available until the running order has been submitted and all fees have been paid.
Accommodation
All accommodation located within the competition centre area has to be booked and paid for through the electronic enrolment system on December 1st, 2025 at 12:00 noon. Accommodation will be confirmed after the organisers have received the payment. Prices for accommodation can be found from the table above (Other fees).
- The camping area for tents is located on a field close to the competition centre and the size of each pitch is 10 × 10 m. The tent areas are located 300–1300 metres from the competition centre.
- The organisers will provide non-heated tents (16 persons each), set up by the organisers, for the use of teams. These tents may be reserved exclusively by foreign teams until January 15, 2026. After this date, any tents that remain unreserved or become available may be booked by all teams. The tents are located 500–1100 metres from the competition centre. These team tents are to be booked per tent.
- Foreign teams should reserve their tents by emailing and payment will be done through the Jukola registration system no later than May 7, 2026. Please see other accommodation options on the website of Kotka-Jukola.
- Parking and accommodation areas for campers and camper vans are located at the Kymi Airfield area. Places are limited and distributed in the order of registration. Places must be reserved and paid in advance through the registration system before May 7th, 2026. There is no electricity available for the campers and/or camper vans.
Wind Shelter Area
Competing clubs have an opportunity to book a place for a wind shelter near the changeover and finish area. There are approximately 500 wind shelter places. All competing clubs making an entry for at least four (4) teams (Jukola and Venla combined) will have the right to book three (3) wind shelter places. All the competing clubs that wish to have a wind shelter place must book it through the electronic enrolment system. The top 25 teams from Jukola 2025 have the right to reserve wind shelter places 1–50.
Arrival and guidance
Detailed instructions for arrival and guidance will be published in May 2026 in the “Guide to Kotka-Jukola” on Kotka-Jukola’s website. Road signs directing to the parking areas will be in place on Friday, June 12th, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. The driving instructions issued by the organizers must be strictly adhered to. Information on other means of transportation to the competition centre will be published later on the Kotka-Jukola website.
- Competition Centre: The competition centre is located in the area of Kymi Airfield and Kotka motor racing centre, about 18 km north of Kotka city centre. The competition centre will open on Friday, June 12th, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Facilities located at the competition centre include, for example, a canteen, first aid services and an information desk as well as shops and exhibition areas. No accommodation or movement in the competition centre or in the camping areas is allowed before the official opening time of the competition centre!
- Parking and Parking Fees: All parking will take place in parking areas at Kymi Airfield, as directed by the organizers. Parking spaces for passenger cars are located approximately 200–2000 metres walking distance from the competition centre. Parking for invited guests, media, and special groups is located approximately 200–1500 metres from the competition centre. Parking fees are listed in the table above.
- Campers and Caravans: See the section “Accommodation”.
- Club Buses: The bus stops (unloading and pick-up points) for the club buses are located in the competition centre.
- Showers and Changing Rooms: Changing facilities are not provided. There will be showers with warm water free of charge as well as a sauna (entrance fee to sauna) at the competition centre.
- Photos and Filming: During the event, photos and videos will be taken. By registering and participating in the event, you confirm that photos or videos taken of you may be used for event-related marketing and other purposes. The material will not be sold or given to third parties in any other way.
- Training: Pre-race trainings are available using the training maps of Kotka-Jukola. Trainings can be purchased from the Kotka-Jukola map shop. Training outside the official training terrains is prohibited.