The Jury is full of of Performing Arts Professionals
Air guitar performances are entertaining yet carefully crafted 60-second acts, blending elements from dance, theatre, and other art forms. The jury evaluates the performances on technical and artistic merit, as well as their “airness.” In 2025, the world final jury brings together extensive experience from across the performing arts.
Juha Torvinen 
Head of the jury since the very beginning of the Air Guitar World Championships in 1996, Juha Torvinen has missed the event only once – when he was playing a stadium gig with his legendary band Eppu Normaali. A true there-guitarist extraordinaire, Juha is the undisputed expert on all things air guitar. With decades of rock ‘n’ roll experience, he knows exactly when a performance hits the right note.
Heli-Maria Latola 
Oulu-based dancer, presence artist, and slowness activist, Heli-Maria Latola brings a unique sensitivity and artistic depth to the jury. She is looking forward to the great communal atmosphere that only Air Guitar can create—an energy that captivates the entire Rotuaari square and unites everyone in pure joy.
Mikko Makkonen 
A dance artist by profession and a master of dance arts and teaching by education, Mikko Makkonen is passionate about movement in all its forms. Makkonen is the main choreographer of the Delta Life spectacle. The event will take place during the Oulu August Festivals in 2026, when Oulu is the European Capital of Culture, and it will be one of the highlights of the entire year.
In Air Guitar performances Mikko will be looking for energy, movement, dedication, and extreme joy.
Miss Lumiere 
A rising drag star of the new generation, Miss Lumiere is known for her dazzling ability to impersonate artists while staying true to her own character. Over the past six years, she has lit up stages across Finland at events, Prides, bars, and TV shows, even gracing magazine pages. In August 2024, Lumiere performed before Finland’s largest live audience at Helsinki Olympic Stadium alongside the iconic band PMMP. On Air Guitar stage, she expects to see professional-level imitation—and plenty of fierce hair flips.
Sanna Hirvaskari 
Hailing from Oulu, Sanna Hirvaskari is a dance teacher with an impressive competitive background, including both national and international championship titles. With over 20 years of experience as a judge in dance competitions, she now also works at the Oulu Culture Foundation, shaping the cultural programme for 2026, when Oulu will shine as the European Capital of Culture. Passionate about bold performance, originality, and fearless self-expression, she’s eager to see competitors who bring raw energy and emotion to the stage.