Jani Lakanen (born 11 December 1976 in Lohja) is a Finnish orienteering competitor, winner of the 2006 World Orienteering Championships (Long distance). He became world champion in relay in 2001, together with Jarkko Huovila, Juha Peltola and Janne Salmi. He won the overall Orienteering World Cup in 2000. He received a gold medal in relay at the 2002 European Orienteering Championships in Sümeg, and a gold medal in the long course in 2006 in Otepää.