Story Summary
The NHL will stage its 2026 Global Series Fan Fest in Helsinki, a free three-day public event built around the Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken regular-season games in Finland. Narinkkatori will host hockey activities, alumni appearances, mascot visits, Stanley Cup appearances and watch parties for both games.
The event opens on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 16:00 until after the first game, then continues on Friday, Nov. 13, from 16:00 to 21:00. It concludes on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 12:00 until after the second game. All times are local.
Key Facts
- The NHL Global Series Fan Fest will take place at Narinkkatori in Helsinki across three days from Nov. 12 to Nov. 14, 2026.
- The event will include more than 25 interactive hockey activities and fan experiences, including challenges, games, competitions and trivia.
- Watch parties will be held for the Hurricanes and Kraken games on Nov. 12 at 19:00 and Nov. 14 at 20:00 local time.
- The Fan Fest will feature appearances by mascots and the Stanley Cup, along with alumni appearances and school-group sessions.
- Carolina’s Finnish players include Sebastian Aho of Rauma, Jesperi Kotkaniemi of Pori and Juuso Valimaki of Tampere.
- Seattle’s Finnish contingent includes Kaapo Kakko of Turku and Ville Ottavainen of Oulu.
- Across its first six years, the touring event visited 40 cities in eight countries and welcomed more than 440,000 fans.
IHM Discussion
This is more than a game-day gathering. By using a central public square over three days, the NHL is creating a shared setting for people who have tickets to the Global Series games and those who do not. The schedule also gives the event its own identity between the two fixtures, rather than limiting it to pre-game entertainment.
The local player links add a natural connection for Finnish supporters. Aho, Kotkaniemi, Valimaki, Kakko and Ottavainen give fans several direct hometown or national touchpoints across the two clubs, while the games also bring Danish, German and Swedish representation through Nikolaj Ehlers, Philipp Grubauer and Adam Larsson.
Why It Matters
International games can be brief occasions on a calendar, but public events broaden who can take part in them. Free entry, hands-on activities and watch parties make the Global Series visible beyond the arena and place the visiting NHL teams in a setting designed for a wider cross-section of Helsinki’s hockey public.
The Stanley Cup presence is particularly significant for an event aimed at all ages. It gives supporters an opportunity to see one of hockey’s most recognisable symbols alongside activities intended to make the sport approachable rather than purely observational.
Fan Pulse
For local supporters, the appeal is likely to sit in the combination of Finnish NHL players and an accessible city-centre event. Narinkkatori provides a communal place to follow two games featuring players with strong Finnish connections, while the Friday programme keeps the celebration active between the matchdays.
Mini Q&A
Where will the 2026 NHL Global Series Fan Fest be held?
The free event will be held at Narinkkatori, one of Helsinki’s prominent public squares.
When are the Hurricanes and Kraken playing in Helsinki?
The teams are scheduled to play on Nov. 12 at 19:00 local time and Nov. 14 at 20:00 local time.
What can fans do at the Fan Fest?
Fans can take part in more than 25 interactive activities, attend watch parties, see the Stanley Cup and encounter mascots and alumni.
Coach Mark Comment
The Friday slot is a thoughtful part of this schedule. There is no game that day, yet the Fan Fest remains open for five hours, which lets the event breathe instead of making everything depend on the puck drop.
For families and school groups, that quieter middle day may be the easiest chance to take part in the skills activities, see the Stanley Cup and enjoy the occasion at their own pace. Hockey is often at its most welcoming when people can pick up a stick, try something new and stay as long as they wish.
What Comes Next
The Fan Fest begins at Narinkkatori on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 16:00 local time, with a watch party running until after the first Hurricanes-Kraken game. The event resumes on Friday, Nov. 13, before its final day and second-game watch party on Saturday, Nov. 14.
IHM Final View
Helsinki’s three-day Fan Fest gives the 2026 Global Series a public platform beyond the two regular-season games. With free admission, a central location and several Finnish NHL players involved on the ice, it is set up as a broad celebration of the sport around a major international NHL visit.