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Amazing Race Suomi
Amazing Race Suomi
Amazing Race Suomi
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Amazing Race Suomi
GenreReality competition
Created byElise Doganieri
Bertram van Munster
Based on
The Amazing Race
by
  • Bertram van Munster
  • Elise Doganieri
Directed byJussi Korva
Olli Horttana
Presented byHeikki Paasonen
Theme music composerJohn M. Keane
Country of originFinland
Original languageFinnish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes36
Production
Executive producersJesse McDonald
Pauliina Koutala
Petra Martikainen
ProducersMia Lehmusoksa
Anna Väisänen
Ella Kaarna
Johanna Tarvainen
Production locationsee below
Running time67–99 minutes
Production companiesMoskito Television
ABC Signature
Original release
NetworkNelonen
Ruutu+
Release30 September 2023 (2023-09-30) –
present
Related
International versions

Amazing Race Suomi (English: The Amazing Race Finland) is a Finnish reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. Hosted by Heikki Paasonen and following the premise of other versions in the Amazing Race franchise, the show follows teams of two as they race around the world. Each season is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in foreign areas, interact with locals, perform physical and mental challenges, and travel by air, boat, car, taxi, and other modes of transport. Teams are progressively eliminated at the end of most legs for being the last to arrive at designated Pit Stops. The first team to arrive at the Finish Line wins the grand prize of EUR30,000.[1]

The first season aired on Nelonen network on Saturdays at 19.30 pm local time and on the Ruutu+ streaming service starting on 30 September 2023.[2][3] The first two episodes and the finale of the first season were two-hour long specials, and the remaining episodes 90 minutes.[4] The season finale aired on 16 December 2023 simultaneously, at 19.30 pm on the streaming platform and TV channel.[5] After the success of the first season, the show was renewed for a second season, hosted by Paasonen, and premiered in October 2024 on Nelonen.[6]

The show was again renewed for a third season which started filming on 3 May 2025.[7]

The Race

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Route Markers

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Route Markers are yellow and red flags that mark the places where teams must go. Most Route Markers are attached to the boxes that contain clue envelopes, but some may mark the place where the teams must go in order to complete tasks, or may be used to line a course that the teams must follow.

Clues

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Further information on the different clues: The Amazing Race § Clues

Clues are found throughout the legs in sealed envelopes, normally inside clue boxes. They give teams the information they need and tasks they need to do in order for them to progress through the legs.

  • Route Info (Reitti–Info): A general clue that may include a task to be completed by the team before they can receive their next clue.
  • Detour (Kiertotie): A choice of two tasks. Teams are free to choose either task or swap tasks if they find one option too difficult.
  • Roadblock (Tiesulku): A task only one team member can complete. Teams must choose which member will complete the task based on a brief clue about the task before fully revealing the details of the task.

Legs

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Host Heikki Paasonen.

Non-elimination legs

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The teams may be punished for arriving last to the Pit Stop on a non-elimination leg. This could affect their placements next leg.

  • Speed Bump (Hidaste): The team that finishes last in a non-elimination leg may have to perform a penalty task at some point during the next leg. This task must be completed before the team is allowed to continue racing.

In the first season, there was only two instances out of three, when a team had to perform a Speed Bump after placing last on a non-elimination leg. The other time there wasn't any penalty for the last placed non-eliminated. From the second season onwards, the Speed Bump has been a common part of non-elimination leg punishments.

Super-legs

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During the Race the contestants may encounter so-called "Super-legs". Upon arriving at the pit stop of a designated location, the presenter Heikki may announce that the leg isn't over, and hands the next clue to the contestants. The racers must complete the second part of the leg without any rest period at the pit stop area. These super-legs are ofter split into two episodes.

Gameplay prizes

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For the third season, there was two Express Passes included, which the winning teams have to use in one task of choice during one of the three following legs.

Rules and penalties

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Rules

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  • During the whole Race, both of each team's members must've performed the same amount of Roadblock tasks. However, it isn't ruled that the racers have to perform the tasks alternately.
  • Teams have to complete all of the tasks during the legs, otherwise they must return to complete any undone tasks, before checking in at the pit stop. This however doesn't apply when an Express Pass is being used.

Penalties

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  • If a team fails to perform a Roadblock, Detour or Speed Bump they receive a 2-hour penalty.

Series overview

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No. Race Information Winners Host Additional Notes
Start Date Starting Line Finish Date Finish Line Distance Countries Legs Teams
1 24 July 2023 (2023-07-24) Töölönlahti Park, Helsinki 16 August 2023 (2023-08-16) Helsinki Velodrome, Helsinki 26,000 km (16,000 mi) 7 12 12 Kaisa Mäkäräinen & Mari Eder Heikki Paasonen Celebrity Version, where at least one contestant from each pair is publicly known
2 22 May 2024 (2024-05-22) Heureka Science Center, Vantaa 14 June 2024 (2024-06-14) 20,000 km (12,000 mi) 6 11 Metti Forssell & Hanna Launonen Introduced the Express Pass.
First season to visit Europe and the Americas
3 3 May 2025 (2025-05-03) Suvilahti Cultural Center, Helsinki 28 May 2025 (2025-05-28) Olympic Stadium, Helsinki 27,000 km (17,000 mi) Maria Guzenina & Vilma Vähämaa

Broadcast details and ratings

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Ratings are provided by Finnpanel [fi].

No. Network Episodes Timeslot (EET) Premiere Finale Average
Viewers[a] 		Average
Rank 		Ref
Date Viewers Rank Date Viewers Rank
1 Nelonen 12 Saturday 7:30 p.m. 30 September 2023 (2023-09-30) 375,000 #1 16 December 2023 (2023-12-16)[b] 580,000 #1 429,000 #2 [8][9]
2 5 October 2024 (2024-10-05) 407,000 #2 21 December 2024 (2024-12-21) 492,000 #1 328,000 #2 [9]
3 Saturday 9:00 p.m.[c]
Saturday 7:30 p.m. 		15 November 2025 (2025-11-15) 277,000 #1 14 February 2026 (2026-02-14) 424,000 #2 TBA TBD [9]
Notes
  1. ^ The average number of viewers during the whole season.
  2. ^ Aired simultaneously on the tv channel and streaming platform.
  3. ^ First episode aired much later due to the finale of Petolliset on the same channel.

Countries visited

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Here is the list of countries Amazing Race Suomi has visited so far:

Notes
  1. ^ Includes 3 Finish Lines

Reception

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Critical reception

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When first announced, the program drew criticism for including Left Alliance politicians (Nurminen, Pekonen and Modig), who have advocated for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, on a show that includes air travel.[10] Filming of the show also began after the 2023 Greece wildfires on Rhodes, leading to more vocal criticism.[11][12] Prior to the start of filming, producer Pauliina Koutala from Moskito Television stated that the show was made with climate change in mind and that they would be offsetting emissions used for filming, which included having teams fly on airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel and rainforest reclamation at the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve on Borneo.[13] In addition, the production team planned a route in such a way to minimise air travel with alternative forms of transportation on land.[14] In total, all the contestants who reached the final leg travelled about 26,000 kilometres (16,000 mi) by airplanes, roughly corresponding to approximately two round trip flights from Helsinki to New York City.[15] On 14 September 2023, Nurminen, Pekonen and Modig stated at a press event that they understood the criticism and agreed to compete after learning about the flight compensations.[16]

Despite the negative social feedback, many Finnish television consumers were positive towards the first season's contestants with many praising the new and varied faces that have not been on reality television programs before.[17] The fast-paced action and comedic elements of the show were praised, and the Finnish version was very similar and relatable to its original American counterpart.[18] Even though the first season took place almost entirely in Southeast Asia and did not feature "flight drama", viewers were overall positive about how this huge format was made successfully in Finland and expressed interest for another season.[19]

According to Nelonen, the first season got a very respectful reception, with the program reach of the whole season reached the total of 2.9 million viewers from 4+ age group, if included all the streaming services and platforms. The average viewership for the season reached 429,000,[20] with season finale picking up the highest average figures of the season for a single episode: 580,000.[21] Prior to the season finale, the season was nominated for Golden Venla Awards in the category of "Competition Reality" and "Best Director(s)" (Jussi Korva & Olli Horttana),[22] that latter which won the award.[23][24]

The program's official Instagram account - which covers best bits, behind-the-scenes and exclusive footage of the show - has gathered over 13,000 followers to date.[25]

Awards and nominations

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Summary of awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated Result Ref.
2023 Golden Venla Competition Reality Season 1 Nominated [22]
Director (Entertainment, Reality and Events) Jussi Korva & Olli Horttana Won [24]
2024 Competition Reality Season 2 Nominated [26]
Script (Entertainment and Factual) Sarri Schonert Nominated [26]
Director (Entertainment and Factual) Jussi Korva & Olli Horttana Nominated [26]
2025 Competition Reality Season 3 Nominated [27]
Director (Entertainment and Factual) Jussi Korva & Olli Horttana Nominated [27]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Amazing Race Suomi

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Amazing Race Suomi is a Finnish reality television series adapted from the American competition The Amazing Race, in which teams of two participants, typically consisting of celebrities or public figures paired with close associates, compete in a global race involving travel to various countries, completion of challenges, and navigation to checkpoints for elimination legs. The show premiered on September 30, 2023, on the Nelonen channel and streaming service Ruutu, hosted by radio personality Heikki Paasonen, and has aired multiple seasons featuring eleven or twelve teams per edition racing through destinations in Europe, Asia, and beyond. The format emphasizes physical and mental challenges, cultural tasks, and strategic decision-making under time pressure, with prizes including cash awards for the winning team, and has gained popularity in as a major adventure program, drawing significant viewership through its blend of competition, travel, and interpersonal dynamics among known personalities. Subsequent seasons, including the second in 2024 and third announced for late 2025, have maintained the celebrity team structure while expanding routes and introducing varied team compositions such as siblings, friends, and couples, underscoring the series' appeal in showcasing Finnish public figures in high-stakes international settings. No major controversies have marked the production, which adheres closely to the franchise's model of promoting global through experiential challenges rather than scripted narratives.

Gameplay Format

Core Mechanics

Amazing Race Suomi consists of multiple teams of two participants, typically celebrities or public figures with pre-existing relationships, competing in a series of legs around the . Each leg requires teams to travel from a departure point to various international destinations using commercial transportation, solve clues to locate and complete tasks, and arrive at a designated . The race emphasizes speed, navigation, and cooperation, with teams departing in staggered starts based on previous leg finishes. Tasks within legs include Route Information clues directing teams to challenges such as Detours, offering a choice between two activities (e.g., physical versus skill-based options like scent identification or tasks), and Roadblocks, where only one team member performs a specific challenge. Additional elements like Speed Bumps for previously saved teams and Express Passes for skipping tasks may appear in certain seasons. Cultural immersion tasks, such as preparation or performances, test adaptability alongside physical and mental challenges like , memory games, and . At the , teams receive their placement; the first-place team often wins a prize or advantage for the next leg, while the last-place team on elimination legs is eliminated from the competition. Non-elimination legs impose penalties on trailing teams, such as additional tasks, but allow continuation. The winning team, determined by first arrival at the final in , receives €30,000. Seasons typically feature 11 or 12 teams and span 10-12 episodes, covering multiple countries.

Tasks and Challenges

In Amazing Race Suomi, tasks and challenges are structured similarly to the international franchise, emphasizing a mix of physical exertion, mental problem-solving, navigation, and cultural immersion to progress through each leg of the race. Teams receive clues directing them to locations where they must complete Detours, Roadblocks, or other specified activities before proceeding to the . These elements are designed to simulate real-world travel obstacles while highlighting local customs and environments in visited countries. Detours present teams with a binary choice between two distinct tasks, each requiring different competencies—typically one favoring speed and strength, the other precision or finesse—to balance and . Completion of either option yields the next clue, though teams opting out incur penalties. Examples from season 1 include cultural activities in , , such as traditional basket boats or handcrafting clay bowls, which tested balance, coordination, and artisanal skills amid urban settings. Roadblocks limit participation to one teammate per team, often involving elements of personal challenge like heights, endurance, or specialized abilities, with the performing member selecting based on their strengths. A season 1 Roadblock in the at required teams to handle animal-related tasks, proving difficult due to unfamiliarity and environmental factors, underscoring the format's focus on individual capability within pairs. Legs in Amazing Race Suomi typically feature a higher of challenges compared to some franchise iterations, with multiple tasks per segment akin to extended or "mega" legs elsewhere, demanding sustained performance across physical, logistical, and cognitive demands. This intensity, observed in episode breakdowns, amplifies strategic decisions on pacing and . Additional Route Info tasks may involve clue deduction, local interactions, or minor physical feats without choice elements, while failures in core challenges like Detours or Roadblocks result in time-based penalties to maintain competitive equity.

Elimination and Prizes

In Amazing Race Suomi, teams complete each leg of the race by checking in at a designated location. The last team to arrive at the is eliminated from the competition at the conclusion of most legs, with the host announcing their departure upon arrival. Non-elimination legs occur periodically, allowing the trailing team to continue but imposing a penalty, such as a task in the subsequent leg that must be completed before proceeding. The first-place team at certain s receives an intermediate , which may include cash, accommodations, or other rewards provided by sponsors. The overall winner, determined by the first team to reach the final Finish Line in , receives a grand of euros in cash. No public information confirms escalating cash awards for eliminated teams, unlike the U.S. version of the franchise.

Rules and Penalties

Teams must complete all challenges, including Detours, Roadblocks, and other tasks, before proceeding to the at the end of each , with the last team to arrive typically facing elimination unless it is a non-elimination . Failure to adhere to task instructions or race guidelines results in time penalties, which are served prior to the start of the subsequent and can significantly impact standings. For example, attempting to bypass or cheat on a task incurs a penalty; in one case during filming, rally driver and co-driver Timo Rautiainen received such a sanction after trying to manipulate a challenge outcome. Quitting a task without completing an alternative option, such as in a , leads to a multi-hour penalty, often 2 to 4 hours depending on the infraction's severity. An additional penalty in the eighth of season 1 proved decisive, directly causing one team's elimination by extending their arrival time beyond competitors. Teams are also required to follow local laws, including traffic regulations, with violations like speeding resulting in further time penalties assessed upon verification. In cases involving ethical dilemmas, such as a meat-consumption challenge in season 2, teams may collectively opt to accept penalties rather than complete the task, as demonstrated when participants agreed to forgo a potential repeat to prevent it from determining race outcomes, amid viewer criticism of the task's design. Minor rule breaks, like improper clue handling, carry shorter penalties, typically 30 minutes, to enforce compliance without overly disrupting the competition's pace. All penalties are adjudicated by production staff and announced by host Heikki Paasonen at the , ensuring transparency in enforcement.

Production

Development and Launch

Amazing Race Suomi was developed as the Finnish adaptation of the American series , a format created by and . The project was initiated by Nelonen Media, with local production support from companies including Profiles Television Productions. Executive producers Lasse Nikkari and Maarit Suominen managed the adaptation for the broadcaster, ensuring alignment with the original global race concept while incorporating Finnish celebrity participants. The series was publicly announced in mid-2023, with the cast of 12 teams comprising well-known Finnish celebrities revealed around July 24, 2023. Heikki Paasonen, an established Finnish television host known for presenting shows like , was appointed as the host to guide contestants through challenges. The first season launched on September 30, 2023, airing weekly episodes on Saturdays at 19:30 EET on the Nelonen channel and simultaneously available on the Ruutu+ streaming platform. This debut marked Finland's entry into the international Amazing Race franchise, featuring teams racing across multiple countries for a prize pool.

Casting and Participants

Amazing Race Suomi employs a casting model centered on Finnish public figures, including celebrities, athletes, influencers, and media personalities, paired with pre-existing relationships such as family members, friends, or partners, to create dynamic team interactions appealing to television audiences. Producers select participants for their recognizability and diverse backgrounds, prioritizing entertainment value over open public applications, as evidenced by the absence of any publicized casting calls or audition processes in official announcements. This approach results in "stunt casts" featuring unlikely pairings of well-known individuals, differing from the original American format's broader applicant pool. Each season typically fields 11 to 12 teams of two, with selections announced prior to filming to generate pre-show buzz through media reveals. For instance, the first season in 2023 included teams like fitness influencers and her sister Noora Hintsa, alongside siblings Tuukka and Sami Ritokoski, emphasizing physical and relational contrasts. Season 2, which concluded with journalist Metti Forssell and her friend Hanna Launonen as winners on December 19, 2023, featured similar high-profile duos such as biathlete Kaisa Mäkäräinen with her husband. The third season, filming of which began on April 30, 2025, from , introduced 11 teams including podcaster Tomas Grekov with his father-in-law and actress Armi Toivanen with a friend, maintaining the focus on varied professional and personal ties. Participant diversity spans sports (e.g., swimmers like Jani Sievinen), entertainment (e.g., singers Arttu Lindeman), and media (e.g., hosts like Mikko Kekäläinen), selected to showcase Finland-specific cultural appeal and competitive edges in challenges. No verified instances of non-celebrity teams exist across seasons, underscoring the producer-driven curation for viewer familiarity and narrative potential rather than random public entry.

Filming Process

The filming of Amazing Race Suomi commences in , typically at locations such as Töölönlahti or Suvilahti cultural center, where teams receive their initial departure times early in the morning. For the first season, production began on July 24, 2023, at Töölönlahti. Unlike the original American format, which spans over 30 days with teams traveling independently on commercial transport, the Finnish adaptation features a condensed schedule of approximately three to four weeks to maintain production manageability. The production team coordinates closely with contestants, often relocating between destinations on the same flights to ensure logistical control and synchronized filming. This approach facilitates real-time task setup by local crews in visited countries, such as and , while minimizing disruptions. Host Heikki Paasonen introduces challenges and provides route information at pit stops, with camera and sound crews embedded with each celebrity team to capture continuous footage during travel, tasks, and interviews. establishes task locations and secures permits, emphasizing safety and cultural sensitivity, though routes prioritize regional clusters—like in season 1—to reduce flight emissions, which Media compensates post-filming. International partners, including firms in , assist with on-location logistics for non-European legs.

Series Overview

Season Summaries

The first season premiered on Nelonen on September 30, 2023, and consisted of 12 teams of two Finnish celebrities racing over 26,000 kilometers across six countries: , , the , , and , with the start and finish in , . Filming occurred from July 24 to August 16, 2023, spanning 18 days and 12 legs, during which teams completed tasks involving local navigation, physical challenges, and cultural interactions, such as counting stairs at in and piloting ultralight aircraft in the . The season finale aired on December 16, 2023, at Helsinki Velodrome, where friends and biathletes Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Mari Eder arrived first, winning €30,000; father-son duo Tuukka and Sami Ritokoski placed second. The second season, featuring 11 teams, aired from October 2024 to December 21, 2024, covering 20,000 kilometers over 24 days and 12 legs, beginning in , , and including destinations in such as and . This season introduced the Express Pass, allowing one team to skip a task, and emphasized competitive dynamics among celebrity pairs with pre-existing relationships. The finale determined friends Metti Forssell and Hanna Launonen as winners of the €30,000 prize, with actress and her father Patrick Willamo in second; the outcome drew public debate over team strategies and interpersonal conflicts observed during the race. The third season began filming on May 3, 2025, from Helsinki with 11 celebrity teams, scheduled for a premiere in autumn 2025 on Nelonen. Specific route details remain undisclosed as of October 2025, but the format continues the global race structure with legs involving travel, challenges, and eliminations leading to a €30,000 prize for the first team to reach the Finnish finish line.

Performance Metrics

As of October 2025, Amazing Race Suomi has completed two seasons since its debut on September 30, 2023, with a third season set to premiere on Nelonen on November 15, 2025. The series features teams of two Finnish celebrities racing through global challenges, with the first season involving 12 teams and the second featuring 11 teams; the third season also includes 11 teams. The grand prize for each winning team is €30,000, awarded to biathletes Kaisa Mäkäräinen and Mari Eder for season 1 on December 16, 2023, and to friends Metti Forssell and Hanna Launonen for season 2 on December 21, 2024. Filming for each season spans approximately three to four weeks, starting from Helsinki and covering multiple international legs before concluding at the Helsinki Velodrome. The reduction to 11 teams from season 2 onward reflects production adjustments while maintaining the core format of 12 episodes per season.
SeasonPremiere DateTeamsEpisodesWinnerPrize
1September 30, 20231212Kaisa Mäkäräinen & Mari Eder€30,000
2October 5, 20241112Metti Forssell & Hanna Launonen€30,000
3November 15, 202511TBDTBD€30,000 (expected)

Broadcast and Distribution

Airing History

The first of Amazing Race Suomi premiered on September 30, 2023, on the Nelonen television network in , with episodes airing weekly on Saturdays at 19:30 EET and simultaneously available on the Ruutu streaming service. The consisted of 12 episodes, concluding on December 16, 2023. The second season followed a comparable broadcast structure, premiering on October 5, 2024, and spanning 12 episodes until its finale on December 21, 2024. A third season has been confirmed and is scheduled to return in November 2025 on Nelonen, maintaining the Saturday evening slot. All seasons are produced by Profiles Television Productions and d3 Media, with episodes typically running 67 to 99 minutes.

Viewership Ratings

The premiere episode of the first , aired on September 30, 2023, on Nelonen, attracted 375,000 viewers on linear television, marking a strong debut for the channel's Saturday evening slot despite competition from MTV3's established programming. Subsequent episodes demonstrated growing , with the October 21, 2023, installment drawing 711,000 viewers according to Finnpanel measurements. The second season's premiere on October 5, 2024, averaged 407,000 viewers during its broadcast, reflecting sustained interest and an improvement over the prior season's launch in linear metrics, while incorporating streaming contributions for broader reach. Peak viewership for this episode exceeded 700,000, underscoring the program's appeal amid fragmented patterns in . Finnpanel data highlights Nelonen's positioning of the series as a key entertainment draw, with demographics showing particular strength among younger adults.

Locations Visited

Continental Breakdown

Across its two seasons aired by October 2025, Amazing Race Suomi has spanned four continents: , , , and , with a total travel distance exceeding 46,000 kilometers when combining reported figures from each season. remains the anchor, hosting starts and finishes in every season, while season 2 expanded to with pit stops in , . This continental emphasis reflects production choices prioritizing accessible international routes from , though dominated the inaugural season's itinerary. Season 1 concentrated on , routing teams through Southeast Asian destinations such as , , for initial challenges involving urban navigation and cultural tasks; and surrounding areas in the for mid-race legs; and , , where competitors counted stairs at and handled fruits. These visits underscored tropical, high-density environments suited to the show's physical and logistical demands, covering approximately 26,000 kilometers before looping back to . No African, Oceanian, or Antarctic locations have been featured, limiting global scope compared to the U.S. original series. In contrast, season 2 diversified to the , incorporating South American legs in —including for strategic decisions and for coastal challenges—and culminating in North America's Central region with the finale in , where teams navigated final obstacles amid tropical terrain. This shift introduced hemispheric variety, with over 20,000 kilometers traversed, emphasizing contrasts between European urban starts, South American urban-rural mixes, and Central American finales. The breakdown highlights a progression from regional Asian focus to broader transatlantic exploration, aligning with escalating production scale while avoiding underrepresented continents like .

Season-Specific Destinations

The first season, which premiered on September 30, 2023, primarily visited destinations in following the starting line in . Teams raced through and Phuket in for initial challenges involving local customs and physical tasks, then proceeded to in . Subsequent legs took place in , where participants navigated urban environments and cultural sites, and , featuring landmarks like the . The route concluded with activities in before teams returned to for the finish line at . The second season, premiering on October 5, 2024, shifted to a more diverse continental route starting from , . Early legs were set in and , emphasizing Eastern European historical and urban challenges. Teams then traveled to , with key tasks in and , , involving local transportation and cultural interactions. The race continued to for Central American segments before ending in , with the final leg returning teams to , . The third season, filmed from May 3 to May 28, 2025, and scheduled to premiere on November 15, 2025, began filming in Suvilahti, , but specific international destinations remain undisclosed prior to airing.

Reception

Critical Analysis

Critics and viewers have noted that Amazing Race Suomi adapts the core format of the original American series by emphasizing celebrity teams and shorter international legs, which enhances accessibility for Finnish audiences but limits the epic scope of global travel seen in the U.S. version. Production quality has been commended as a notable achievement for domestic television, with collaborations involving international format holders contributing to polished visuals despite evident budget constraints that restrict route length and eliminate traditional flight competitions. These limitations, partly attributed to environmental concerns over emissions, result in fewer dynamic travel elements, reducing the inherent to the franchise. Challenge design draws consistent criticism for lacking variety and ingenuity, often described as repetitive and unengaging compared to the original's diverse physical and mental tasks. User evaluations on platforms like aggregate to a 6.8/10 rating from over 60 reviews, reflecting from relatable Finnish dynamics but frustration with pacing issues, including episodes exceeding standard lengths that dilute tension. Hosting by Heikki Paasonen receives implicit approval through the show's prime-time success, though some find certain team interactions—such as overly casual banter—irritating and detracting from competitive focus. Overall, the series succeeds in delivering culturally resonant reality competition but struggles to match the original's intensity, with adaptations prioritizing local appeal over rigorous racing mechanics, as evidenced by mixed feedback on season premieres where novelty fades into formulaic execution. This positions Amazing Race Suomi as a solid but derivative entry, effective for viewership retention yet critiqued for not fully leveraging the format's potential for high-stakes adventure.

Public Opinion

Public opinion toward Amazing Race Suomi has been mixed, with Finnish viewers appreciating the novelty of teams through international destinations but often critiquing the format's execution relative to the U.S. original. Common praises include the engaging personalities of participants and the thrill of cultural challenges, while criticisms focus on repetitive tasks, limited budget evident in production values, and a perceived lack of high-stakes tension. An aggregate viewer rating of 6.8 out of 10 on , based on 63 evaluations as of late 2025, underscores this divide, with one assessment labeling it a "generally bad version of the original series" due to underwhelming challenges funded partly by public resources. Participant choices have fueled public discourse, particularly around perceived inconsistencies in contestants' prior stances. Rapper Paleface, known for critiquing commercial media, drew charges from online commentators for joining the show, prompting him to defend his involvement as aligned with personal growth opportunities. Such backlash highlights broader skepticism toward celebrity reality TV in , where audiences value authenticity amid a competitive media landscape. Season 2, airing in 2024–2025, elicited early mixed but hopeful reactions from international fan communities monitoring the , noting improvements in pacing alongside lingering format familiarity. Overall, the series maintains a niche appeal among reality TV enthusiasts in , though it has not achieved the cultural phenomenon status of its American counterpart, as evidenced by contained buzz rather than widespread viral engagement.

Awards Recognition

In 2023, Amazing Race Suomi season 1 earned a nomination for Competition Reality at the Kultainen Venla awards, Finland's premier television honors, but did not win in that category. The show's directors, Jussi Korva and Olli Horttana, received the award for Best Director in the , , and events category, recognizing their work on the production aired by Nelonen and Ruutu. The program has been nominated in subsequent years, including shortlists and finalist selections for technical and creative categories in the 2024 Kultainen Venla, reflecting ongoing industry acknowledgment for its and execution by Moskito Television. No grand prize or series-wide wins beyond the directorial honor have been reported as of October 2025.

Controversies and Criticisms

Political Involvement Debates

The participation of left-wing politicians in the inaugural season of Amazing Race Suomi, which premiered in September 2023 on Nelonen and featured 12 celebrity teams racing globally for a €30,000 prize, ignited debates on the perceived inconsistency between their environmental advocacy and the competition's travel demands. member Silvia Modig of the Left Alliance (Vasemmistoliitto), alongside Finnish Parliament members Ilmari Nurminen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Aino-Kaisa Pekonen of the Left Alliance, drew particular attention, as all three had previously endorsed policies including taxes to reduce emissions. Critics argued that their involvement contradicted these stances, given the format's reliance on international flights across multiple continents. Conservation biologist Panu Halme voiced disappointment toward Nelonen and Modig for endorsing "aimless flying" that exacerbates climate pressures. politician Niina Ratilainen questioned the rationale for transporting celebrities worldwide during an escalating climate crisis, emphasizing the emissions footprint. Lawyer and commentator Merja Pentikäinen labeled the production irresponsible, citing broader imperatives that such high-profile participation appeared to undermine. Filming commenced around July 21, 2023, amplifying the timing's irony amid ongoing European heatwaves and policy discussions on reducing . Nelonen countered that not every race leg would require air transport, potentially mitigating some environmental impact, according to reports in . No public rebuttals from the politicians were documented in initial coverage, though the controversy underscored broader scrutiny of public figures' personal actions versus their policy platforms on causal drivers of global emissions. These exchanges reflected empirical tensions in aligning rhetorical commitments to emission reductions with resource-intensive entertainment formats.

Production and Format Critiques

The format of Amazing Race Suomi exclusively features teams of two well-known Finnish celebrities, often in unconventional pairings, diverging from the original series' typical inclusion of non-celebrity contestants and potentially altering competitive stakes and audience identification. Viewer responses to the season 2 premiere highlighted pacing issues, with demands for extended episode lengths to better capture all teams' efforts rather than focusing narrowly on frontrunners. Production enforces strict safety protocols, including a prohibition on running during tasks to mitigate injury risks, necessitating on-site corrections when teams deviate from guidelines. Task design has drawn scrutiny, as exemplified by a season 2 meat-consumption challenge that elicited ethical objections over and participant discomfort, to which producers responded by underscoring rigorous pre-planning and veterinary oversight in sourcing. An episode featuring high-risk elements prompted viewer condemnations of perceived irresponsibility, though production affirmed safety as the paramount criterion in challenge development.

References

  1. https://www.fremantle.fi/production/amazing-race-suomi/
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29352288/
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  18. https://www.reddit.com/r/TheAmazingRace/comments/1587pc0/the_recently_announced_finnish_amazing_race_cast/
  19. https://www.reddit.com/r/TheAmazingRace/comments/164wygu/the_amazing_race_finland_trailer/
  20. https://www.instagram.com/heikkipaasonen/
  21. https://www.iltalehti.fi/tv-ja-leffat/a/f6d9b4d1-c327-4b9f-8332-a5593dab22d4
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  25. https://www.nelonen.fi/uutiset/julkistus-tassa-ovat-uudet-amazing-race-suomi-kilpaparit-kisa-juuri-startannut
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  27. https://www.iltalehti.fi/tv-ja-leffat/a/9b75cd92-8bc3-470f-b42b-ba30de6a4188
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  29. https://www.nelonen.fi/uutiset/amazing-race-suomen-2-kausi-ja-lentojen-ilmastovaikutukset
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