The Brief

Performers from around the globe gathered in Finland this week to compete for the top honor in an unusual art form: air guitar.

The Air Guitar World Championships reached their finale Friday night in the city of Oulu, where finalists from 13 countries battled for glory without ever striking a real chord.

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Now in its 28th year, the championships bring together passionate contestants who are judged not on actual guitar playing but on presence, originality, and what organizers call "Airness."

Competitors perform two songs in separate 60-second rounds, one of their choice and one selected by the organizers. Props and costumes are allowed, but real instruments and backing bands are forbidden.

The winner is determined by a five-member jury of performing arts profession

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