2026 NHL Global Series Location Revealed

The NHL will be returning to Helsinki, Finland for the 2026 NHL Global Series Finland — which will see the Seattle Kraken and Carolina Hurricanes face off at Veikkaus Arena on Nov. 12 and Nov. 14. 

The league made the announcement on the morning of March 23. Both the Kraken and the Hurricanes have several Finnish players on their rosters. The league previously also announced that it would also be playing two games in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Dec. 18 and Dec. 20, with the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks set to participate. Seattle has three forwards — Kaapo Kakko, Eeli Tolvanen and Jani Nyman — born in Finland. The Hurricanes see forwards Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Pori) on their roster as Finnish natives.

Kakko said the 2026 Global Series will be his first time ever playing a NHL game in his home of Finland.

"It’s my first time being able to go and play there, so it will be nice to play in front of my family and friends," said Kakko per a Seattle Kraken media availability. "Hockey is big over there; they love hockey over there. It can be hard to watch the NHL because of the time difference, but it is a big hockey culture. … I think they are going to love it."

2026 Global Series Heading to Helsinki, Finland

The 2026 Global Series marks a return to Helsinki for the first time since the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets split their two-game series in 2018. The games in Finland and Germany will additionally mark the 13th season, and fifth consecutive year, that the NHL has traveled to Europe to play regular-season games.

Of the 48 previous regular-season games played outside North America, there have been 11 played in Finland, of which seven have taken place in Helsinki, and one has been played in Germany. 

Kakko, 25, is in his second season with Seattle. The right wing was originally selected by the New York Rangers with the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Kakko has 30 points across the 2025-26 season.

Seattle next takes on the Panthers on March 24.

The Hurricanes are currently standing atop the Metropolitan Division with 96 points across a 45-19-6 overall record.

Veikkaus Arena, formerly known as Hartwall Arena, has hosted a total of seven previous NHL regular-season games. It has a capacity of approximately 13,349 during ice hockey games.

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