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Living August 22, 2025

Air guitar players compete for world championship: See photos

WATCH: Rocking at the 2025 Air Guitar Championships
GMA Logo By GMA Team

The world's top air guitar performers traveled to Finland this week for what has become an annual display of air guitar greatness.

On Friday, 16 competitors from different nations performed in the final of the 2025 Air Guitar World Championships.

The winner was a Finland native, Aapo "The Angus" Rautio, who won his first-ever world title.

PHOTO: Aapo Rautio aka 'The Angus' from Finland performs during the final of the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
Kimmo Brandt/EPA/Shutterstock
Aapo Rautio aka 'The Angus' from Finland performs during the final of the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.

Rautio's win was also the first time in 25 years that a competitor from Finland has won the world champion title, according to the competition's website.

Rautio took home the title after an "air off" with the second place winner, Japan's Yuta Sudo "Sudo-chan."

The two were tied after two rounds, requiring a tiebreaker.

PHOTO: Yuta Sudo aka 'Sudo-chan' from Japan performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
Kimmo Brandt/EPA/Shutterstock
Yuta Sudo aka 'Sudo-chan' from Japan performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.

The Air Guitar World Championships takes place annually in front of thousands of people in Oulu, a city in central Finland.

Rocking at the annual Air Guitar Championship

The purpose of the competition, according to its website, is to promote world peace, with a motto of "Make air. Not war."

Check out photos below from this year's competition.

PHOTO: Saladin Thomas aka 'Six String Sal' from the U.S. performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
Kimmo Brandt/EPA/Shutterstock
Saladin Thomas aka 'Six String Sal' from the U.S. performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
PHOTO: Heidi Toivio aka 'Pink Passion' from Finland performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
Kimmo Brandt/EPA/Shutterstock
Heidi Toivio aka 'Pink Passion' from Finland performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
PHOTO: Apolline Andreys aka 'Lady Attila' from France performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
Kimmo Brandt/EPA/Shutterstock
Apolline Andreys aka 'Lady Attila' from France performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
Editor's Picks
PHOTO: Mathilde Dollat aka 'Clitoriff' from France performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
Kimmo Brandt/EPA/Shutterstock
Mathilde Dollat aka 'Clitoriff' from France performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
PHOTO: Justine Betems aka 'Medusa' from France performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.
Kimmo Brandt/EPA/Shutterstock
Justine Betems aka 'Medusa' from France performs during the first round of the final at the Air Guitar World Championship in Oulu, Finland, August 22, 2025.

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