New Year 2026 is almost here! But how should you celebrate? Here are our top picks for ringing in the new year in Helsinki.
Children’s New Year
The city’s official New Year’s Eve celebrations at Kansalaistori kick off early on 31 December 2025 with a kids’ programme from 17:00. Family fun comes courtesy of the beloved dinosaur-costumed band Hevisaurus, playing live before a family fireworks display around 18:00.
City Celebrations at Kansalaistori
Adult festivities begin at 22:15 with a big Eurovision twist, as Finnish favourites Erika Vikman and KAJ take to the stage. Fun fact: the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 saw an unusual double Finnish presence, with KAJ representing Sweden thanks to their Swedish-speaking Ostrobothnian roots.
Also performing is Ares, a Finnish-Greek rapper at the forefront of Finland’s new-wave hip-hop scene, known for bold, high-energy modern rap.
Helsinki’s official New Year celebrations have been a tradition since 1938. For years, the night ended solemnly with the hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Today, however, the crowd happily embraces the other end of the emotional spectrum, going wild for good-naturedly kitschy Eurovision anthems like Ich komme! and Bara Bada Bastu.
Säiliö’s New Year
At Suvilahti’s Säiliö venue there’s fun for all ages. From 18:00–20:00 it’s Säiliö Junior for the little ones, DJ’d by the charismatic DJ Sateenkaarivelho – and it’s free to attend.
Then from 20:30–00:30 the grown-ups get their turn with free outdoor beats courtesy of SÄILIÖ & Ravenation, promising a communal groove into the night.
The party reaches its peak indoors with SÄILIÖ Silvester, a ticketed event. Expect international acts in the main hall and celebrations of Mindcore’s 20th anniversary on the Gasometer stage. Tickets are €39 in advance or €45 on the door.
Finlandia Hall NYE Party
Make history at Finlandia Hall, which is hosting its first-ever New Year’s Eve party. Designed by Alvar Aalto, this white-marble modernist landmark is one of Helsinki’s most iconic buildings – better known for congresses and classical concerts than late-night dancing. That changes this year. From 22:00 to 04:00, four DJs and a live hip-hop set take over the halls, turning a national cultural monument into an all-night party venue.
Kultsa New Year’s Disco
Finlandia Hall isn’t the only Alvar Aalto–designed building turning into a dancefloor this New Year’s Eve. Unlike Finlandia Hall, Kulttuuritalo (the Culture House) is no stranger to parties: over the years it has hosted everyone from Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin to Queen. Now it returns with its NYE disco for the second year running. Last time it sold out, drawing around 2,500 revelers. Multiple rooms and bars host DJs spinning across genres – plus speed dating and a communal sing-along karaoke.
Hello 2026 at Vanha
Hello 2026 arrives at Vanha ylioppilastalo (Old Student House) with techno and house vibes on two stages. Expect sets from Super8 & Tab, Orkidea, Proteus, Kid93, Evarist and The Circus.
Tuu Kattoon 2026
For Helsinki’s most underground vibes, head to KATTO in Vallila – a new rave space from Raaka Arki events launching with a New Year’s blow-out. Music starts at 20:00 and goes right through to the morning, with 12 DJs covering multiple electronic genres. Find details on Raaka Arki’s Instagram.