Ismo

Based between Finland and the United States, Ismo Leikola develops a stand-up act focused on language, the everyday misunderstandings that arise, and the gaps between Finnish and Anglo-Saxon cultures. First noticed on the Jyväskylä stage and then in Finnish clubs and festivals, he gradually broadened his activity internationally by performing in English. That expansion took him to Los Angeles, where he frequently appeared in comedy clubs and on several television programs, notably CONAN and The Late Late Show with James Corden, establishing him with anglophone audiences. His approach—probing expressions, dissecting cultural norms and playing on translation-based misreadings—forms the backbone of his shows, which he adapts for each country where he performs. In 2023 Ismo opened for Gabriel Iglesias at London’s O2 Arena, followed a solo European tour and has announced plans to continue touring across Europe beginning in 2025.