Finland Air Guitar World Championship has finally returned to its roots. For the first time since the year 2000, a Finnish performer has claimed the crown. Aapo “The Angus” Rautio lifted the title in Oulu on Friday, bringing the trophy back to the country that gave birth to the contest.
The 30th edition of this three-day celebration of music without instruments attracted performers from 13 countries. Participants were judged on stage presence, originality, technical ability, artistic impression, and what the jury calls “airness” – the ability to embody the soul of an imaginary guitar.
Rautio performed in black overalls with striking stage makeup. His style carried him past Japan’s Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo, who finished second. Belgium’s Lèon “Leonfire” Ostrowsky won the audience vote. Last year’s champion, Zachary “Ichabod Fame” Knowles from Canada, returned to defend his title but fell outside the top three.
Each competitor performed two routines, both lasting 60 seconds. The first was to a song of their own choice while the second was assigned by the organisers. Five jury members drawn from performing arts backgrounds scored the acts from 4.0 to 6.0. The combined totals decided the outcome.
Props and costumes were allowed as long as they did not include real instruments or live backing bands. Performers could choose between the illusion of an electric or acoustic air guitar.
Rautio’s victory means a lot for Finland. Even though the event has been held in Oulu every year since 1996, no local had managed to win since the early days of the competition. His triumph restored national pride in a contest that has grown into a worldwide cultural event.
The champion received the “Flying Finn” guitar, a hand-crafted prize built by Finnish luthier Matti Nevalainen.
Organisers emphasised that the contest carries a larger message. They stated that “wars will end, climate change will stop and all bad things will vanish when all the people in the world play the air guitar.”
Far beyond its humorous surface, the Finland Air Guitar World Championship has become a unique festival of unity, performance, and shared joy.
