Midsummer in Helsinki

In Helsinki, we will celebrate the nightless night by enjoying the sea, nature and events. See our tips for the Midsummer week.

, updated
Tuomiokirkko auringonlaskussa.
Photo: Mikko Huotari

Around Midsummer, there will be more going on in Helsinki than you might think.

The Seurasaari Midsummer Bonfires event has been one of the most beloved Midsummer traditions in Helsinki since 1956. The event delights people with its colourful national costumes, skilled folk dancers and folk musicians. The traditional maypole, or Midsummer pole, will be raised at 18.00 and bonfires will be set ablaze in Kokkoranta at 21.00. The last bus from Seurasaari to Helsinki will leave at 01.20.

The Midsummer bonfire will also light up at around 20.00 in Pihlajasaari, to which a waterbus will operate on an extended schedule on Midsummer Eve.

NOTE! If a wildfire warning has been issued, the bonfires will not be lit and it will be forbidden to start an open fire.
 

Seurasaari Midsummer Bonfires
Ferry timetable for Pihlajasaari island during Midsummer
See whether a wildfire warning has been issued

The archipelago also invites you to come and enjoy nature during Midsummer

Auringonottajia Pihlajasaaren uimarannalla.
The nearby islands are easy to reach even during Midsummer. Photo: Helsingin kaupunki

Helsinki’s archipelago offers an excellent setting for celebrating Midsummer.

FRS Finland operates the Eastern Archipelago Route 
Timetable and route of the Eastern Archipelago Route

FRS Finland operates the Western Archipelago Route 
Timetable and route of the Western Archipelago Route

FRS Finland operates to Kaunissaari island 
See the waterbus timetable for Kaunissaari
Kaunissaari

Merenkävijät operates to Harakka island
See the ferry timetable for Harakka
Harakka island

The ferry of Restaurant Uunisaari operates to Uunisaari island 
See the ferry timetable for Uunisaari
Uunisaari

JT-Line operates to Vallisaari island
See the ferry timetable for Vallisaari

FRS Finland operates to Lonna island 
See the waterbus timetable for Lonna

Suomenlinna 
Suomenlinna’s event calendar

There are also dozens of other islands off the coast of Helsinki that you can visit on your own

See all the islands

Visit a market square, see a movie and go dancing!

A visit to one of the market squares in Helsinki is guaranteed to get you into the Midsummer spirit. Enjoy a cup of coffee and buy strawberries and potatoes for the Midsummer table. At least Hakaniemi Market Square and Helsinki Market Square will be open on Midsummer Eve.

This year, the cinema WHS Teatteri Union is continuing its Midsummer tradition of screening a Finnish film by showing the log driver film ‘On lautalla pienoinen kahvila’ (Finland, 1952). 

Lasipalatsikortteli will once again host the Midsummer Disco, which has become a tradition. Club Kuudes Linja on Hämeentie and Club Kaiku will host the two-day We Love Helsinki Midsummer Dance, which is yet another modern Midsummer tradition in Helsinki. The sauna restaurant Löyly Helsinki’s programme for Midsummer Eve features Jaakko Kulta and a free-of-charge flower crown workshop, among other things.
 

See the market squares in Helsinki
WHS Teatteri Union: On lautalla pienoinen kahvila (in Finnish only)
Midsummer at Lasipalatsikortteli 
We Love Helsinki Midsummer Dance (in Finnish only)
Löyly Helsinki

Borrow games and reading material from a library

You should borrow games and equipment from a library for your own Midsummer Olympics. Among other things, you can borrow a mölkky, boules, croquet, badminton or ring toss set from a library. The range of items available for loan varies from library to library. Use the Helmet library search to see what is available.

The libraries in Helsinki will close earlier than usual on Thursday 18 June. They will be closed for the entire Midsummer weekend, with the exception of self-service libraries, which you can also visit during Midsummer.The self-service libraries in Helsinki are the libraries of Herttoniemi, Jakomäki, Laajasalo, Lauttasaari, Myllypuro, Paloheinä, Ristikko, Suomenlinna and Viikki. Registered users can access the self-service libraries with their library card and PIN code. You can find the opening hours on each library’s own Helmet page.

You can also enjoy books, magazines and music in the E-library’s collections during Midsummer – while lounging in a hammock, for example.

Visit the E-library
See library opening hours

Helsinki City Museum, Villa Hakasalmi, the Worker’s Museum, Helsinki Tram Museum and Burgher’s House Museum will be closed on Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day. On Sunday 21 June, the museums will be open from 11.00 to 17.00, offering a great opportunity to explore the new Helsinki exhibition at the City Museum, for example!

Helsinki City Museum

Helsinki’s summer youth centres will organise fun activities for young people during the Midsummer week and throughout the summer. At youth centres across the city, you can try out different sports, play games or just hang out. All activities are free of charge. All you need is a free Youth Services membership card, also known as Jässäri. You can find the opening hours on the Youth Helsinki website.

Outreach youth workers will be working throughout Midsummer, wherever young people are. The City’s youth workers will be out and about from 15.30 to 1.00 on Midsummer Eve, 19 June, and from 17.00 to 1.00 on Midsummer Day, 20 June. You can contact them via Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram or by phone. 

Youth Helsinki website
Outreach youth work in Helsinki on Instagram

Go swimming, enjoy the sauna and work out!

Saunojia Kumpulan maauimalan saunassa.
On Midsummer Eve, you can enjoy a sauna at both outdoor swimming pools, Allas Sea Pool, Kotiharju Sauna, Sauna Hermanni, and Löyly Helsinki. Photo: Maarit Hohteri

The Uimastadion Swimming Stadium and Kumpula Outdoor Swimming Pool will be open with shortened opening hours throughout the Midsummer weekend. On Midsummer Eve, you can also go to the sauna at least at Allas Pool, Kotiharju Sauna, Sauna Hermanni and Löyly Helsinki.

Most indoor sports facilities will be closed during Midsummer, but you can work out for free at the City’s many outdoor gyms. For a wide range of tips and routes for outdoor activities and hiking, visit the ‘Outdoor activities, parks and nature destinations’ website.

Outdoor swimming pools
Kotiharju Sauna
Sauna Hermanni
Löyly Helsinki
Allas Pool
Outdoor gyms
Outdoor activities, parks and nature destinations

Visit Linnanmäki, Korkeasaari Zoo or Haltiala farm

The Linnanmäki amusement park, Korkeasaari Zoo and Haltiala farm will also be open during Midsummer. Visit their respective websites to see their opening hours.

Linnanmäki offers a wide range of amusements for people of all ages, and you should also see what the amusement park’s Area Programme has to offer. The amusement park’s legendary roller coaster turns 75 this year.

Korkeasaari Zoo is open every day of the year. On Midsummer Eve, the zoo will be open from 10.00 to 17.00, and on other days from 10.00 to 20.00. Korkeasaari island is easily accessible by public transport and nowadays also by bridge via Nihti, Mustikkamaa and Laajasalo.

On the redeveloped Haltiala farm, you can see a variety of animals, from sheep to cows and alpacas, in the domestic animal yard, which you can access free of charge. Additionally, the farm offers a wide range of paid farm-themed activities: pony rides, a pedal car track, mini golf and much more.
 

Linnanmäki amusemant park
Korkeasaari zoo
Haltiala farm (in Finnish)

Get into the Midsummer spirit in advance

Kaupunkitanssijoita.
During Midsummer week, free dance lessons will be offered at the Maunula House summer square, Teurastamo, and Lyypekinlaituri. Photo: Virpi Peltola

On Monday 15 June, the Helsinki City Folk group, formed by folk dancers and folk musicians, will kick off the Midsummer week at Espa Stage by bringing joyful and skilful dance and music performances and colourful national costumes to the stage. ‘STRENGTH FROM OUR ROOTS’ is this year’s theme in folk music and folk dance, and it has provided inspiration for the performances. During the Midsummer week, Espa Stage will also offer free-of-charge activities every day from Monday to Thursday.

Free dance lessons in the form of Dancing in the City events will take place at Maunula House Summer Square on Wednesday 17 June and in Teurastamo and Lyypekinlaituri on Thursday 18 June. In Maunula and Lyypekinlaituri, you can learn the waltz, and in Teurastamo, you can learn humppa.

After the Dancing in the City event at Maunula House Summer Square, the celebration will continue with the Midsummer Dance, accompanied by accordionist Teemu Harrinkari. The event will also feature a Vilttikirppis park flea market event, and you can borrow yard games from the library and barbecue food at the youth centre.

Seurahuone in Oulunkylä, one of Helsinki’s community houses, will host a pre-Midsummer party with cheerful music and barbecue on Thursday. The event will feature singer-songwriter Yusuf Albegoglu.

The cultural centres will be closed for the Midsummer weekend, from Friday 19 June to Sunday 21 June.
 

Summer 2026 at Espa Stage
Dancing in the City events in summer 2026 (in Finnish only)
Pre-Midsummer party at Maunula House Summer Square
Pre-Midsummer party in Seurahuone in Oulunkylä