European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU will launch negotiations on a security and defence partnership with Iceland, marking a significant deepening of ties between the Nordic nation and the European Union. Standing alongside Iceland’s new Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, at a press conference in Keflavík, von der Leyen outlined plans for closer cooperation on emerging security challenges. “We will cooperate more closely on hybrid threat response, civil protection and secure communications,” she said, emphasizing joint efforts against cyber and other non-traditional threats.

The Nordic region is witnessing a remarkable boom in artificial intelligence startups, with Sweden at the forefront. Stockholm-based Lovable has just become Sweden’s latest tech unicorn, highlighting a wave of innovative AI companies emerging across Sweden and its Nordic neighbors.

Estonia’s journey to reclaim independence in 1991 – after half a century under Soviet rule – is often remembered for the courage and unity of the Estonian people. Mass singing demonstrations, human chains across the Baltics, and shrewd political moves defined this “Singing Revolution.” Less known, however, is the covert but crucial support from neighboring Finland. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Finland acted as a supportive “big brother,” quietly funneling financial aid, training, and resources to help Estonia rebuild its state – all while maintaining a delicate balance with the Soviet Union.

Beneath the hiss of birch-fed steam, a centuries-old Nordic ritual is suddenly the coolest wellness ticket in town. From smoke-blackened huts in the forests of Finland and Estonia to glass-walled “contrast-therapy” pop-ups on Venice Beach, sauna culture has journeyed across the Atlantic—picking up bio-hackers, Silicon Valley founders, and everyday seekers along the way. In 2025, the searing-heat-then-ice-plunge cycle isn’t just detox; it’s a communal reset that’s rewriting how North America thinks about health, tech, and togetherness.

Thelma Sigurhansdóttir, also known as Thelma Gella, has launched her debut solo exhibition: Habitat at the Art Lab Gallery, in Staten Island. An Iceland native, completing her BA in Studio art at CUNY in New York City, Thelma’s work has been exhibited internationally in New York, Iceland, and Denmark. Outside of her studies, Thelma currently works as a sculpture assistant for a Brooklyn-based artist.

From 19th‑century immigrant weeklies to today’s digital platforms, Nordic and Baltic media in New York has constantly reinvented itself. This overview traces that evolution—and shows how The Northern Voices now leads the next chapter as a fully digital hub for Northern creativity.

Over 40 Nordic and Baltic artists transformed the Estonian House into a living, breathing expression of identity, heritage, and hope. For the first time, artists and audiences from across eight nations came together under one roof to share stories, sounds, and traditions in perfect harmony. From immersive forest installations to a soaring concert finale, the evening brought the entire diaspora together like never before. It wasn’t just a performance—it was a deeply felt reunion, and a turning point in the cultural presence of Nordic and Baltic voices in New York.

Eero Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center soared from a Finnish-American vision to an enduring New York landmark. This piece shows how a modest Nordic community shaped a celebrated piece of design history and left a lasting mark on the city’s architecture.

A mystical forest, ancient legends, and a dash of Broadway showmanship – Kalevala the Musical is a theatrical experience like no other. This emerging production reimagines Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala, as a contemporary musical, complete with sweeping songs and fantastical storytelling.

With an acoustic guitar in hand and a story to tell, Ida Metsberg creates music that resonates with honesty and heart. This Finnish singer-songwriter, now based in New York, merges the confessional style of contemporary pop with the rich narratives of folk music.