The international sustainability seminar Spark the Future will be organised for the fourth time in summer 2026 as part of Secto Rally Finland, a round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The event will take place on Friday, 31 July 2026, at Jyväskylä Paviljonki.
In just a few years, Spark the Future has grown into a significant international meeting place where the transformation of mobility, sustainable technology and responsible leadership come together. The seminar brings together industry experts, business leaders, researchers and influential figures from the international motorsport community.
The 2026 edition will be held in a special setting as Secto Rally Finland celebrates its 75th anniversary. As one of the world’s most prestigious motorsport events, Secto Rally Finland attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Central Finland every year and generates extensive international media attention.
Secto Rally Finland’s sustainability efforts have also received international recognition. In 2025, the event was honoured in the FIA and UN Tourism Awards for Excellence in Sustainable Sports Tourism, receiving the award in the Most Sustainable Sport Event category.
The Spark the Future seminar combines the global visibility of rallying with innovations in sustainable mobility and discussion on the rapidly evolving operating environment. Particular focus is placed on innovation and leadership – how future mobility can be developed responsibly while strengthening technological progress and competitiveness.
The 2025 edition was part of the FIA Sustainability Programme and WRC Promoter’s Beyond Rally initiative. The stage featured internationally renowned speakers, including television personality Richard Hammond.
“Spark the Future has, in a very short time, grown into an important international forum for discussion within the sector. It is great to see how the event strengthens Finland’s – and especially Central Finland’s – position as a platform for discussions on future mobility and sustainable solutions,” says Tiina Lehmonen, Promoter of Secto Rally Finland and responsible for organising the seminar.
First Speakers Announced
The seminar programme will bring together internationally recognised speakers, the latest research perspectives and presentations of practical sustainability innovations. The full programme for 2026 will be published closer to the event, but the first speakers can already be announced.
Among them is Emma Kimiläinen, two-time UIM E1 World Championship title winner and racing driver, who has established herself as a pioneer in electric motorsport and sustainable technology.
Joining the speaker line-up is Professor Heikki Liimatainen from Tampere University, one of Finland’s leading experts in sustainable mobility and transport systems. Complementing the sustainable mobility theme is Erik Kanerva, who was also a featured speaker at last year’s event. Kanerva serves as Nordic Sales Director at Kempower, a company specialising in fast-charging solutions and electrified mobility.
Pierre Villez, representing the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), will present the latest developments and key priorities in sustainability within the sector. The seminar will also highlight how WRC Promoter GmbH is advancing sustainability throughout the FIA World Rally Championship.
The seminar showcases practical solutions and development projects that contribute to more sustainable mobility both locally and internationally.
In Cooperation with Key Regional Stakeholders
Spark the Future 2026 is organised in close cooperation with the City of Jyväskylä and the Regional Council of Central Finland. The event strengthens Central Finland’s position as a leading region for sustainable mobility, transport system development and responsible innovation.
In the summer of 2026, Jyväskylä will once again host a unique event where sustainability, innovation, performance and leadership come together in the international environment of world-class rallying.
