During the day, Tampere will experience the spirit of a major international sports event as the World Championships are brought into the heart of the city. The event is built in the spirit of Free of Limits; relaxed, open and together. People of all ages are invited to join. There will be activities for everyone, from babies to grandparents, from active floorball players to those discovering the sport for the very first time.
The programme will include floorball activities and try-outs, a meet & greet with national team players, competitions, surprises and an opportunity to get a sneak peek at the World Championships in December.
The aim is not simply to organise a single event, but to kick off a tournament atmosphere that will continue throughout the autumn.
– We want to create a shared event for the whole family. What matters the most is not how much people already know about floorball, but that they come along to enjoy themselves, experience the atmosphere and spend time together. Everyone is welcome to join with a low threshold, and there will be activities and experiences for all, says Kati Voutilainen, Secretary General of the Championships.
Cooperation with the cities of Tampere and Turku is extremely important in the preparations for the two home World Championships. Voutilainen points out that the World Floorball Championships are in a fortunate position, as cooperation can be carried out with two host cities.
– We are continuously learning from the preparations for the Tampere Championships, and those lessons can then be applied in Turku in 2027.
The 100-day milestone will also be celebrated with a playful floorball match, in which the cities of Tampere and Turku will go head-to-head.
Mayor of Tampere Ilmari Nurminen sends a competitive yet good-humoured message to Turku.
– We warmly welcome Turku to challenge Tampere. Here, we are used to strong performances both on the court and in event organisation. The most important thing is that we build the world’s best floorball championships together and show how two strong event cities can create a unique sports celebration together, says Mayor Ilmari Nurminen.
Mayor of Turku Piia Elo did not leave the challenge unanswered.
– Turku knows how to create historic events, and it is great to be able to build the World Championships story together with Tampere. Tampere now deserves its moment in the spotlight, while we in Turku continue our work towards the Women’s World Floorball Championships in 2027. We have a unique opportunity to create a nationally significant World Championships entity and to take Finnish floorball forward, Elo replies.
Elo will be replaced as captain of Team Turku by Tuomas Heikkinen, Chief Executive Officer of the City of Turku.
The other players on the teams will be announced in August.
The World Floorball Championships will be played in Tampere from 5 to 13 December 2026. The group stage matches will be played at Hakametsä Ice Hall and Kauppi Sports Center, and the tournament will culminate in the medal matches at Nokia Arena.
