Join us for the opening ceremony of the 2025–2026 academic year on Monday, 1 September
The opening ceremony will be held in the University’s Great Hall from 12.15. The event can also be viewed via live stream at Think Corner or on the University of Helsinki’s YouTube channel.
The programme of the opening ceremony includes an address by Rector Sari Lindblom as well as greetings from staff and the Student Union delivered by Edward Haeggström, chair of the University of Helsinki chapter of the Finnish Union of University Professors, and Petra Pulli, the Student Union’s board chair. The ceremony will also feature musical performances.
Attendance at the ceremony held at the Great Hall required prior registration. The event is currently fully booked, and a large number of university members are waiting for possible cancellations.
The ceremony can also be viewed via live stream at Think Corner (Yliopistonkatu 4) or on the University of Helsinki’s YouTube channel. The live stream includes sign language interpretation.
The opening ceremony will be followed at about 13.30 by an ecumenical service in Helsinki Cathedral (Unioninkatu 29) and a secular service in the National Library of Finland’s Cupola Hall (Unioninkatu 36). Parish Pastor Petja Kopperoinen will give the opening sermon at the church service, which will be conducted by University Chaplain, Vicar Leena Huovinen; Professor Susanna Lindroos-Hovinheimo will speak at the secular service.
Following the services, the audience is invited to enjoy coffee and cake in the Main Building’s second-floor foyers starting at 14.00.
Arrival, academic procession and dress code
The opening ceremony lasts about an hour, and the audience should arrive at the Great Hall well ahead of the scheduled start time. Entrance is from Aleksanterinkatu 5; an accessible entrance is located at Yliopistonkatu 2. Please leave your coats, rucksacks or other large bags in the Entrance Hall Aleksi cloakroom at Aleksanterinkatu 5. You may bring a small bag and mobile phone to the Great Hall. Tickets from your registration confirmation will be checked at the entrance.
The University leadership and staff participating in the academic procession will convene in Aula Rectoria on the Main Building’s second floor on Fabianinkatu at 11.55. The dress code for the procession participants is dark suit and doctoral hat or, for holders of doctoral degrees from universities outside Finland, other academic attire. After the opening ceremony, the academic procession will walk from the Great Hall to the church and secular services.
Attendees not participating in the procession are expected to dress in smart casual attire and arrive directly at the Great Hall by 12.15. Please note that ticket checks may take some time and that late entry to the Great Hall is not permitted once the event has started. You can view a live stream of the ceremony at Think Corner or online via the University’s YouTube channel.
Opening carnival on the City Centre Campus from 14.00 to 18.00
The opening ceremony will be followed by the opening carnival across the City Centre Campus. The carnival offers students the chance to explore the activities of Student Union associations, the Student Union itself and other University-affiliated organisations. For the carnival programme, visit the Student Union website.
At the opening carnival, freshers (students beginning their studies this academic year) can meet the University rector, sign the rector’s guestbook and pick up a University patch for their student coveralls. The meeting and signing will take place in the rector’s reception lounge (University Main Building, Fabianinkatu 33, 3rd floor) on 1 September from 15.00 to 16.30.
Meet young people on the 30 under 30 list at Think Corner
In February the University of Helsinki’s Kipinä Future Forum published a list of 30 promising individuals aged 30 or under from different domains. Students can meet some of them at the opening carnival at a ‘speed friending’ event organised at Think Corner on 1 September from 14.30 to 15.30. They can also explore a photo exhibition of the listed persons. In addition, patches for student coveralls will be handed out at Think Corner starting at 14.00.
A warm welcome to the opening festivities!