Finland wins air guitar world title after 25 years

By admin On Aug 25, 2025

Aapo Rautio “The Angus” of Finland performs during the Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland, on August 22, 2025. Photo: Eeva Riihelä / Str / Lehtikuva

Finland has taken back the Air Guitar World Championship for the first time since 2000, as local competitor Aapo “The Angus” Rautio won the title in Oulu on Friday.

The 30th edition of the three-day contest brought together performers from 13 countries. Contestants were judged on stage presence, originality, technical skill, artistic impression, and “airness”, the spirit of embodying an imaginary guitar.

Rautio, who competed in black overalls and heavy stage makeup, edged out Japan’s Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo, who placed second. Belgium’s Lèon “Leonfire” Ostrowsky was voted audience favourite. Last year’s champion, Canada’s Zachary “Ichabod Fame” Knowles, returned to defend his title but did not make the top three.

The rules required each participant to perform two 60-second routines: one to a song of their choice and another to a track selected by the organisers. Scores from both rounds were combined, with marks ranging from 4.0 to 6.0 awarded by a five-member jury of performing arts professionals.

Props and costumes were allowed, but real instruments and backing bands were banned. Contestants had the option of using an “electric” or “acoustic” air guitar.

Rautio’s victory marked a milestone for Finland, which hosts the championships annually but had not produced a winner in 25 years. The event began in 1996 and has since become an international fixture, drawing national champions and open qualifiers from around the world.

The winner received a “Flying Finn” guitar, crafted by Finnish luthier Matti Nevalainen.

Organisers said the competition promotes a spirit of unity, declaring 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.”

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi