Article pictures © Rosa-Maria Salonen
In March 2027, the eyes of the international figure skating community will turn to Tampere. Tens of thousands of people are expected at Nokia Arena to enjoy the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2027. The event itself will last just one week, but it is the culmination of a massive amount of planning and work.
From a Finnish spectator’s perspective, hosting the World Championships at home is a rare treat, as Finland last hosted the ISU Figure Skating World Championships in spring 2017. The World Championships held in Helsinki received plenty of praise, among other things for the enthusiastic home crowd and the “Together” theme of Finland’s centenary celebrations. For the 2027 World Championships, the bar has once again been set high.
The Secretary General of the World Championships, Salla Mäkelä, says that plans are underway for a unique spectacle that will take the spectator experience to a whole new level.
The ISU Figure Skating World Championships will bring the world’s best skaters to Tampere in March 2027. The Secretary General of the World Championships, Salla Mäkelä, wants to create an unforgettable experience for both athletes and spectators.
“For me, a successful event is not measured solely by whether everything runs smoothly and we see spectacular performances on the ice. I want the World Championships to leave people with a lasting memory, so that years from now they will still remember what it felt like to be in Tampere during that particular week.”
“In my view, the importance of the audience to an athlete cannot be overstated.”
The aim is to have sold-out crowds at Nokia Arena throughout World Championships week. More than 70 % of tickets for Friday and Saturday have already been sold, which Salla says is an excellent position to be in at this stage.
“In my view, the importance of the audience to an athlete cannot be overstated. When a skater steps onto the World Championships ice and sees a full Nokia Arena in front of them, hears the cheers and feels the energy from the stands, it has an enormous impact. At its best, the audience can help an athlete find that extra spark and push themselves to deliver a performance they will remember for the rest of their lives.”
At the same time, the excitement generated by a major championship, combined with the dynamic elements of figure skating, offers spectators experiences they can only have once.
“When thousands of people fall silent before a decisive performance and, after a successful performance, the entire arena rises to its feet, moments are created that television simply cannot convey.”
Finland is known for being an excellent host
According to Jouko Pitkänen, Chair of Skating Finland, awarding Finland the ISU Figure Skating World Championships is a great vote of confidence from the International Skating Union.
“The World Championships are the ISU’s most important competition, and their significance for the sport’s international visibility is enormous. The ISU values Finland’s ability to organise events to an exceptionally high standard. We deliver on our promises and are also able to exceed expectations.”
By the time the first competitor takes to the World Championships ice, thousands of hours of work and hundreds of decisions will already have gone into the event. Much of this work remains invisible to the audience. Around 300 volunteers are involved in staging the World Championships, including experienced figures who have spent decades organising international figure skating championships.
“Without this expertise and commitment, it would be impossible to put together an event of this scale. It is a tremendous asset for Finnish figure skating,” Salla emphasises.
Jouko Pitkänen, Chair of the Finnish Figure Skating Association.
Preparations progressing on schedule
Not so long ago, the focus at the planning table was on the big picture, but preparations for the World Championships have now moved on to concrete details. Work is underway on everything from athlete routes and the functionality of the arena’s different spaces to the spectator’s entire experience on competition day – from arriving in the city to the experience inside the arena.
The athletes are at the heart of the event, however, and in addition to creating a spectacular experience for spectators, the World Championships in spring 2027 are being designed to be more athlete-focused than ever. Experienced competitors at major championships have seen some of the world’s finest arenas, so according to Salla Mäkelä, they cannot be impressed by impressive surroundings alone. The overall experience comes from how the athlete is treated and how well everything around them works.
“For example, we ask athletes what kind of music they like during practice and competition, and what helps them get into the right mindset for their best possible performance. We then aim to accommodate their wishes. Even small things can influence how an athlete feels about the competition venue.”
“Our community and fan culture are strong, and I am truly grateful for that.”
Ultimately, all the planning is geared towards the moment when the athletes take to the ice and the stands fill up. That is when the audience also gets to play a part in creating the atmosphere of the World Championships.
“Our community and fan culture are strong, and I am truly grateful for that. In March, we will get to experience it all again at Nokia Arena. The atmosphere is at its very best when you are there in person. I can hardly wait,” says Jouko enthusiastically.
The ISU Figure Skating World Championships will take place at Nokia Arena from 16 to 21 March 2027. Tickets are available from the Lippu.fi online ticket shop.
