Join us for the opening celebrations of the University’s 2026–2027 academic year on Monday, 31 August 2026
The opening ceremony will be held in the University’s Great Hall starting at 12.15. The event can also be watched as it is happening on the University’s YouTube channel. All students, staff and friends of the University are welcome to attend.
At the opening ceremony, Rector Sari Lindblom will formally open the academic year and join Board Chair Emil Aarnio of the University’s Student Union and Chair Jukka Hoffrén of the University’s Docents’ Association for a discussion on the topic Kestävä tulevaisuus rakennetaan tutkitulla tiedolla (‘A sustainable future is built on research knowledge’). The discussion will be led by Emilia Uljas. Music will be performed by the Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra.
After the opening ceremony, audience members are welcome to attend an ecumenical service at Helsinki Cathedral (Unioninkatu 29) or a secular ceremony at the National Library of Finland’s Cupola Hall (Unioninkatu 36), from around 13.20. Parish Pastor, Acting Vicar Päivi Vähäkangas, DTh, will give the opening sermon at the church service, conducted by University Chaplain Sonja Jakobsson, with the Chamber Choir EOL performing. Professor Tomi Rantamäki will speak at the secular ceremony, with the Ilma Vocal Ensemble performing.
Coffee, tea and refreshments will follow in the Main Building foyers (second floor, Unioninkatu) at 14.00.
Watch the opening ceremony live via this link. Sign language interpretation is included.
Please see the event's accessibility information via this link.
Arrival, academic procession and dress code
The opening ceremony lasts approximately one hour, and the audience is advised to arrive at the Great Hall well before it begins. Doors to the Great Hall will open at 11.45 and will close at 12.10. The main entrance and cloakroom are located at Aleksanterinkatu 5 (Entrance Hall Aleksi), with an accessible entrance at Yliopistonkatu 2. Please leave coats, rucksacks and other large bags in the cloakroom.
University leadership and staff participating in the academic procession will convene in Foyer Rectoria on the second floor of the Main Building’s Fabianinkatu side at 11.55. The dress code for procession participants is dark suit or equivalent formal attire and doctoral hat, or other academic dress for those holding a doctoral degree from a university outside Finland. After the proceedings at the Main Building, participants in the academic procession will walk to either Helsinki Cathedral or the National Library.
Attendees not participating in the procession are asked to wear smart casual attire and arrive directly at the Great Hall by 12.10.
Opening carnival on the City Centre Campus from 14.00 to 18.00 and a chance for freshers to meet the rector
The opening ceremony will be followed by the opening carnival spread across the City Centre Campus, where students can get to know the Student Union, its associated organisations and other groups within the University. For the carnival programme, visit the Student Union website.
On opening day, freshers (students beginning their studies this year) can meet the University rector and sign the rector’s guestbook, from 15.00 to 17.00 in the rector’s reception lounge, second floor, Fabianinkatu 33.
Explore the University’s history in the Helsinki University Museum Flame’s exhibition centre from 14.00 to 18.00
On opening day, Helsinki University Museum Flame invites you to its exhibition centre to immerse yourself in the history of the University and its disciplines through a range of personal stories and unexpected locations for research and study. What significance has the University had for the people within it and for society at large? What is the story of our community?
The Museum is located on the first floor of the University’s Main Building, at Fabianinkatu 33, and is open on the day from 14.00 to 18.00. Admission is free for University students and staff.
The University warmly welcomes everyone to the celebrations marking the start of the academic year!