NEWS UPDATES 2026
Bringing you the latest insights, publication announcements and critical perspectives from the ever‑inspiring world of Tove Jansson…
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ANNOUNCEMENTS!
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In 2026 we celebrate 80 years of Comet in Moominland
(see the official website)
TOVE (streaming): Where to watch the movie online!
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NEWS & VIEWS
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Biscuiteers launches Moomins collaboration
“Biscuiteers, the UK’s original hand-iced biscuit brand, has officially collaborated with the Moomin brand to create a charming Moomin biscuit collection and three letterbox biscuits” (in addition to a special keepsake tin), reports Fiona Briggs.
(Retail Times, 6 March 2026)
Wild, wise, and wonderfully free: Female figures in Moominvalley
“The female figures in Moominvalley are forces of nature.”
(Moomin, 5 March 2026)
Tove Jansson – the creator of the Moomins, grew up in a challenging family
“Her talented father sympathized with Hitler, but she still loved him.”
(Baltijas Balss, 28 February 2026)
Tove Jansson’s Controversial Illustrations of The Hobbit
“In 1960, renowned Finnish artist and author Tove Jansson was commissioned to illustrate the Swedish translation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy novel The Hobbit.”
(Conzit Labs, 27 February 2026)
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth Launching April 27 for PC, Switch 2, & Switch
“Hyper Games has announced that Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth will launch for Switch 2, Switch, and Steam on April 27th.”
(The Otaku Authority, 20 February 2026)
Tove Jansson Gallery: Artist Family Jansson
“The Tove Jansson Gallery at HAM opens on a larger scale than ever before, now spreading across three exhibition halls. The first exhibition from at the gallery [running 13th February 2026 until 10th January 2027] focuses on the Jansson family of artists and opens the door to a home where art was a way of life.”
(HAM Helsinki Art Museum, 13 February 2026)
About February’s first book-deals
“Móra Könyvkiado Zrt has acquired the Hungarian rights to four of Tove Jansson’s Moomintroll’s stories: Comet in Moominland (Kometen kommer, Schildts & Söderströms, 1946), Finn Family Moomintroll (Trollkarlens hatt, 1948), The Memoirs of Moominpappa (Muminpappans memoarer, 1950) and Moominsummer Madness (Farlig midsummer, 1954) from Rights & Brands.”
(FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange, 6 February 2026)
“…why a whole country listening together still matters”
Merja Lindroos on: The Moomins as Adult Reading: Lessons on Uncertainty, Rest, and Home
(Basecamp Books, 3 February 2026)
“…a flavour of the narrative and the sheer joy these two ladies took in each others company”
In Notes from an Island – Tove Jansson & Tuulikki Pietilä, the blog host shares a few thoughts on Tove’s illustrated memoir of the years she and Tuulikki Pietilä lived in a cabin on a treeless skerry in the Gulf of Finland.
(Ramblings on my bookshelves, 3 February 2026)
“Tove Jansson knew what it was like to fear for her life and the future.”
In this lovely piece (“A safe place where people were nice to each other”: books written as a refuge from the world) by Lucy Fuggle on the “comfort of literary utopias, from Rivendell to Moominvalley”, she recommends reading The Moomins and the Great Flood to find such a “sanctary”.
(Life with Books, 20 January 2026)
“All in all, nothing much happens … and yet it’s a rich life”.
Chris Lovegrove ruminates on Tove’s 1989 novel, Fair Play in his lovely post, “Rather happy tales” (Calmgrove Books, 9 January 2026)
Iconic Moomin artist to get permanent gallery in European museum
Natalie Wilson reports: “Tove Jansson’s illustrations will span three exhibition halls in Helsinki” (Independent, 7 January 2026)
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EVENTS
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MARCH
30th March 2026
Tove Jansson: The World of the Moomins – After-Work Tour with Elisa Morell in Munich
Literaturhaus München, Salvatorplatz 1 80333 Munich, Germany
The exhibition presents Tove Jansson and her iconic figures comprehensively for the first time and opens up a view of the artistic oeuvre that reaches far beyond the Moomin Valley. The exhibition shows that special mixture of poetry and anarchy, of security and resilience that touches generations of readers: a cosmos that reminds adults of their inner child and at the same time reignites the imagination. It is recommended for young people and adults who want to discover Jansson as a versatile artist – as well as the timeless messages of her lovably stubborn trolls (not for children, must be at least 14-years-of-age).
Ongoing until 31st March 2026
20-Meter Giant Moomin Makes a Splash at Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center
TICEC, No.1000, Sec. 3, Liming Rd., Situn Dist., Taichung City 40760, Taiwan
“The Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center […] has unveiled a world-first attraction: a 20-meter-tall giant Moomin inflatable, now on display in the venue’s outdoor plaza.”
Ongoing until 12th April 2026
Tove Jansson: The World of the Moomins
Literaturhaus München, Salvatorplatz 1 80333 Munich, Germany
80 years ago, Finnish artist Tove Jansson invented the Moomins, the iconic rotund trolls that are currently celebrated worldwide. Their stories are a plea for tolerance, empathy and a thirst for adventure. The Literaturhaus München is presenting it for the first time in an exhibition.
Ongoing until 27th September 2026
Escape to Moominvalley: Reflecting Reality Through Tove Jansson’s Imaginary World
The Architecture & Design Museum, Korkeavuorenkatu 23, Helsinki, Finland
The exhibition highlights the global celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Moomin stories by taking a “fresh look at the connections between Jansson, the Moomins, architecture, and design.”
Ongoing until 24th January 2027
Tove Jansson Gallery, HAM (Helsinki, Finland)
Tove Jansson has her own dedicated space spanning three exhibition halls in the Helsinki Art Museum built around her frescoes ‘Party in the Countryside’ and ‘Party in the City’. “The inaugural exhibition centres on Jansson’s artistic family, with courage – inspired by Tove Jansson’s book Comet in Moominland – as its unifying theme.”
Ongoing until March 2027
Enchanted by Klovharun – On the Island of Tove and Tuulikki
Chappe Gustav Wasas gata 11 10600 Ekenäs, Finland
The exhibition showcases some of Tove Jansson’s few sea-themed paintings and Tuulikki Pietilä’s prints that depict Klovharun. The photographs taken by visiting artists Erika Adamsson and Katja Syrjä provide a comprehensive view into the working life of the artists on a distant outer island in the Baltic Sea. In connection with the exhibition, a book will be published, with an article by non-fiction writer Sanna Nyqvist, Docent in Comparative Literature.
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MAY
23rd May 2026 – 6th September 2026
The Wonders of Moominvalley, Ferens Art Gallery (Kingston upon Hull, England)
A specially curated interactive exhibition celebrating the stories and artwork of Tove Jansson’s Moomin characters.
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AUGUST
9th August 2026
Finnish Art Day / Tove Jansson Day
“Finnish Art Day, also known as Tove Jansson Day, is an annual flag flying day [in Finland, which] celebrates the birthday of Tove Jansson”. At Book Jotter, we honour Tove and her Moomins throughout the month of August and encourage others to do likewise.
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Please let me know if I have missed anything of importance. Thank you!
Categories: LGB, Tove Jansson
Wow, Paula, a fabulous list for the New Year! 💗
Thank you so much, Gretchen. 🤗
Thanks for the mention and link to my review, and good to see Tove Trove is still an ongoing project!
You’re very welcome, Chris. Thanks so much. 😊👍