The Moomins turn 80 in 2025, marking a significant milestone since their debut in 1945. Tove Jansson’s stories of inclusion, kindness and belonging have touched generations around the world. The theme of the celebrations is “The Door is Always Open” and fans old and new are invited to take part in various events and initiatives throughout the year.

It’s time to celebrate for Moomin Characters, marking 80 amazing years of success since the debut of the first Moomin story in 1945. The celebrations started in October 2024: to honor Moomins’ rich history, Moomin Characters unveiled a series of initiatives and events under the overarching theme “The Door is Always Open” – including charitable fundraisers, fan competitions, books, a new film, product launches, and much more.

Moomin Characters and the master agency Rights and Brands encourage fans, licensees and partners to join the global festivities, with new opportunities and collaborations to celebrate the lasting legacy of Tove Jansson’s characters throughout 2025.

James Zambra, Creative Director and Thomas Zambra, Head of Business Development at Moomin Characters Ltd, shared:

“As we celebrate 80 years of Moomin, it’s a privilege to carry forward Tove Jansson’s legacy of inclusivity, creativity, and compassion. The theme ‘The Door is Always Open’ reflects the universal values at the heart of the Moomin stories. We are excited to see how fans around the world will embrace these timeless messages through the exhibitions, Moominhouse competition, and new collaborations we have planned throughout the year”.

A Tribute to Tove Jansson

Celebrations start with a revisiting of Tove Jansson’s inaugural tale, The Moomins and the Great Flood, where the Moominhouse symbolizes shelter, comfort, and security – timeless concepts that stand still and even more relevant today. With this tribute to Jansson’s great legacy, this anniversary stands as a commitment to keeping on sharing her values of creativity and compassion worldwide.

Two major exhibitions in Jansson’s home country highlight the celebrations, providing a rare look into her life and artistic expression, previously unexplored. Filling two floors of the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM), Tove Jansson: Paradise takes an in-depth look at the artist’s public paintings and the preparatory studies previously unseen by the public. Moreover, a prestigious exhibition at the Architecture and Design Museum in Helsinki in October 2025, showcasing Jansson’s unique approaches to architecture and design and how she masterfully crafted both imaginary and physical spaces, will culminate this year of celebrations.

After Tove Jansson’s Forest of Drawings at ASCE, Hong Kong (November 22, 2024 – January 5, 2025), several other dedicated exhibitions are scheduled throughout 2025 and beyond, including From Moomin to Chop Chop at Waldemarsudde, Stockholm (February 15 – August 17, 2025); Artist Life, a biographical exhibition on Tove Jansson, at Tampere Moomin Museum (April 19, 2025); The Moomin Valley at Łódź’s SEMAFOR Studio, Poland (May 22 – November 23, 2025); and a touring Moomin exhibition at Mori Arts Center Gallery, Japan (July 2025 – June 2027).

My Moominhouse Competition

In tandem with the anniversary theme, Moomin Characters invites fans of all ages to participate in the global My Moominhouse Competition. Participants are encouraged to construct their own versions of the Moominhouse as a sanctuary for fun and celebration, reflecting the core value of inclusivity. Submissions can be presented in any creative medium, and will be showcased in an online gallery. 

To join the competition, participants can submit their creations through the Moomins’ official website: https://www.moomin.com/moomin80/ competition. The deadline for entries is April 30, 2025. An expert jury of artists, Moomin experts, and enthusiasts will evaluate the submissions and award prizes for the most inspiring works. The winners will be announced on May 28, 2025.

Exciting Product Launches

In 2025, Moomin Characters will collaborate with renowned fashion retailers and designers to launch new collections, inspired by Moomins’ timeless identity while reaching new audiences with gifts and lifestyle products.

Notable partnerships include an exclusive collection with Urban Outfitters, which debuted in November 2024, bringing an exclusive collection of Moomin-branded products into all the 195 stores in the United States.

Finnish furniture designer Artek, founded in 1935, and Moomin Characters celebrate their dual anniversary with the launch of a new Artek + Moomin collection. Available from March 2025, the reimagined Aalto products feature early drawings by Tove Jansson.

Moreover, collaborations include fashion house Acne Studios, CASETiFY, Rue De Tokyo, MarMar Copenhagen and, special anniversary collections from Moomin Arabia and more. Japanese designer Tao Kurihara debuted a Tove Jansson-inspired runway collection, to be followed by a Moomin-inspired collection launching in 2025, for tao by Comme des Garçons.

The Summer Book becomes a movie!

Adding to the excitement of 2025, a much-anticipated adaptation of Jansson’s cherished novel, The Summer Book, directed by Charlie McDowell, will hit screens following premieres at prestigious film festivals, including the BFI London Film Festival and AFI Film Fest in October 2024. Set on a small island in the Gulf of Finland, The Summer Book movie promises to capture the essence of friendship through the unique story of a young girl and her grandmother, played by eight- time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close.