30.05.2026
IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship returns to Helsinki in 2030
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Congress has officially awarded the 2030 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship to Finland and Latvia.
The tournament will take place from 17 May to 2 June 2030, with games hosted in Helsinki and Riga. Both cities will stage one preliminary round group and the quarter-finals, while the semi-finals and medal games will be played in Helsinki.
The decision marks another major milestone for Finland as a host nation for international sporting events and reinforces the country’s strong reputation for delivering world-class championships.
According to Heikki Hietanen, President of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, preparations can now begin in earnest: “With the decision now confirmed, preparations for the championship can begin. It is already clear that the City of Helsinki, the arena, and other key stakeholders are fully committed. There has been a strong desire to bring the World Championship back to the Helsinki region.”
Major economic and tourism benefits
Beyond the sporting spectacle, the IIHF World Championship is a significant global sporting event in terms of international visibility, visitor spending, and economic impact.
The championship’s return to the Finnish capital is expected to attract not only domestic hockey fans but also a substantial number of international visitors. The tournament lasts more than two weeks, creating considerable benefits for tourism, hospitality and local businesses.
Previous impact studies demonstrate the scale of these effects. The 2022 IIHF World Championship, hosted in Finland, generated an estimated €86.7 million in direct economic impact and between €108.4 million and €151.7 million in indirect economic impact for the Tampere region. Similarly, the 2023 IIHF World Championship, co-hosted by Finland and Latvia, generated an estimated €75.2 million in direct economic impact and €94–131.6 million in indirect economic impact.
The event’s global media reach is equally impressive. In 2025, the IIHF World Championship achieved a cumulative television audience of 551 million viewers, with coverage broadcast in 40 countries through 227 television and media partners.
World Championship returns to the Finnish capital
Helsinki has a long and successful history as a host city for major international ice hockey events. The city most recently served as the main host of the Men’s World Championship in 2012 and has also played an important role in several subsequent tournaments. The return of the championship to Helsinki has been warmly welcomed by the city.
“It is fantastic to bring the Ice Hockey World Championship back to Helsinki. We warmly welcome players and fans from Finland and around the world to enjoy the atmosphere of the tournament and everything our city has to offer. I am confident that the championship will once again create unforgettable sporting moments and a world-class event experience,” said Daniel Sazonov, Mayor of Helsinki.
Finland to host the 2028 IIHF World Junior Championship
Before the 2030 World Championship arrives, Finland will host another prestigious international ice hockey event. The 2028 IIHF World Junior Championship (U20) will be played in Tampere and Turku, continuing Finland’s strong tradition of organising major international ice hockey tournaments and strengthening the event portfolio of Finnish host cities.
Past Ice Hockey World Championships in Finland:
1965 Tampere
1974 Helsinki
1982 Helsinki, Tampere
1991 Turku, Helsinki, Tampere
1997 Helsinki, Turku, Tampere
2003 Helsinki, Tampere, Turku
2012 Helsinki, Tukholma
2013 Tukholma, Helsinki
2022 Tampere, Helsinki
2023 Tampere, Riika
________
Photo: Veikkaus Arena