19.01.2026
Urheilugaala 2026 brought Finnish sports celebration back to the legendary Veikkaus Arena
On 15 January 2026, the Finnish sports community gathered at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki to celebrate the achievements of the past sporting year at the annual Urheilugaala, Finland’s most prestigious sports awards event that has been held since 2008.
After a short break, the gala returned to Veikkaus Arena with an outstanding atmosphere, bringing together athletes, sports influencers, and fans alike. The celebration was also widely followed across the country, as Yle’s national TV broadcast reached an impressive 1.3 million viewers (Finland’s population approximately 5,5M).
The evening culminated in the announcement of Athlete of the Year, awarded for the first time to a tennis player, Harri Heliövaara. Following a great season, including a Grand Slam doubles title at the Australian Open and victory at the ATP Finals. Heliövaara also made history as the oldest Athlete of the Year since 1958.
Another standout of the night was Suvi Minkkinen, who received both the Breakthrough Award and the public-voted Most Touching Sports Moment of the Year for her World Championship bronze medal performance.
Basketball was also strongly represented throughout the gala. Susijengi, the Finnish men’s national team, was named Team of the Year, head coach Lassi Tuovi received Coach of the Year, and Miikka Muurinen was awarded Young Athlete of the Year. In addition, Lauri Markkanen placed second in the Athlete of the Year vote.
The evening also honoured sporting legacy, as three new legends were welcomed into the Finnish Sports Hall of Fame:
- Esko Rechardt (Sailing, Olympic gold 1980)
- Heli Rantanen (Javelin throw, Olympic gold 1996)
- Janne Ahonen (Ski jumping, five-time world champion)
Urheilugaala once again showcased the power and passion of Finnish sports, celebrating excellence and inspiration across generations.
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Picture: Sport Event Management Finland