WHAT IS THE MIDNIGHT SUN BOWL?

The Midnight Sun Bowl is a summer flag football tournament held in Northern Finland, where competition continues late into the night—without darkness.

 

Played outdoors in Oulu during peak summer, the event features late-day games and championship matches played at midnight, under full daylight. It is a rare natural setting paired with focused, high-quality flag football.

 

The event is organized by American Football in Finland (AFF) and serves as a flagship tournament for women’s and youth girls’ flag football.

 

WHY “MIDNIGHT SUN”?

Above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set during the summer months.
In July, daylight remains constant—even at midnight.

 

The Midnight Sun Bowl is built around this phenomenon:

• Games played late into the evening

• Finals kicking off at midnight

• Outdoor football in full daylight, start to finish

It’s not a theme — it’s the environment.

 

TOURNAMENT FOCUS

Midnight Sun Bowl is designed as a player-first, competition-focused event.

The priority is:

• Development

• Fair competition

• A clean, well-run tournament experience

This approach allows players and teams to focus fully on the game while experiencing something truly unique.

 

WHO IS IT FOR?

Divisions

• Women

• U17 Girls

 

Teams

• Established club teams

• Newly formed teams

• International teams interested in summer football in Finland

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Time: 15:00 – 01:00
Location: Oulu, Finland
Venue: Castrenin Kenttä
All games are played in one day.
Championship games begin at midnight.

 

COMPETITION FORMAT

• 5v5 Flag Football

• Minimum 4 games guaranteed

• 15-minute halves

• Running clock

• AFF Flag Football Rules

• Tournament-appointed referees

• Full-game livestreams on YouTube

 

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE 

Teams visiting from outside Finland can expect:

• Easy travel via Helsinki → Oulu

• Mild summer temperatures

• Full daylight late into the night

• A calm, compact host city

Midnight Sun Bowl is not a vacation package — it’s a football tournament in a setting that can’t be replicated elsewhere.

 

SPECTATORS & MEDIA

• Free entry

• Full games streamed live

• Event coverage via AFF social channels

• Photography released post-event

 

READY TO PLAY?

Registration is open to women’s and U17 girls’ teams.

Spots are limited.