Star Dancers at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition Gala

The Helsinki International Ballet Competition will take place from May 28 to June 5, 2026. The competition will conclude with a gala and award ceremony, featuring Yuka Masumoto, Clark Eselgroth and Violetta Keller as guest performers. The spouse of the President of Finland, Suzanne Innes-Stubb serves as the patron of the competition. 

Star Guests of the Gala
In the 2022 competition, Yuka Masumoto received the main prize, the Jane Erkko Grand Prix, as well as the Pas de Deux Award together with Clark Eselgroth. Currently, Masumoto works as a principal dancer with the Finnish National Ballet.

Clark Eselgroth, who represented the United States, also took first place in the men’s junior series in the 2022 competition. Eselgroth danced as a first soloist with the Finnish National Ballet until 2025, after which he moved to the Bayerisches Staatsballett as a demi-soloist.

Violetta Keller danced with the Finnish National Ballet from 2018, quickly progressing from the Youth Company to principal dancer in 2022.

The director of the Bayerisches Staatsballett, Laurent Hilaire, invited her to join his company as a principal dancer for the 2025/2026 season, which also meant a return to her home country, Germany.

“In their long collaboration, the Finnish National Ballet and the Helsinki International Ballet Competition have been a key part of the lives of national and international ballet stars. Inviting artists rooted in either of these institutions is the fairest way to pay tribute to the work they do for the art of ballet”, says Javier Torres, chair of the ballet competition jury and artistic director of the Finnish National Ballet.

Suzanne Innes-Stubb is the Patron of the Competition
The spouse of the President of Finland, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, serves as the patron of the Helsinki International Ballet Competition 2026.


“I am delighted to serve as the patron of the Helsinki International Ballet Competition, which is being held for the tenth time. The competition brings together talented young dance artists from around the world and is among the most prestigious international ballet competitions. Events like this highlight talent and spread the joy of dance to everyone”, says Mrs Suzanne Innes-Stubb.