Jokerit tickets 2026-27: the Liiga comeback at Helsinki Areena
Jokerit are back in Liiga for 2026-27, the first time since 2013-14, and the Helsinki hockey scene has not looked like this in years. Use this guide for the 32 home games, the HIFK derby dates and the best way to buy Jokerit tickets.
Why Jokerit tickets are the story of the Liiga season
Most seasons, a ticket guide says go to the best team. In 2026-27 the more interesting story is the club coming home. Jokerit joined the Liiga for the first time since 2013-14, and the return puts a Helsinki name back among the 17 teams.
For fans who remember the earlier years, it is a reunion. For newcomers, it is a chance to be in the room for something fresh, which is rarely true of a regular-season game.
Jokerit at Veikkaus Arena (Helsinki Areena): the big stage
Jokerit play at Veikkaus Arena (Helsinki Areena), with a listed capacity of 13,349, the largest in the 2026-27 Liiga list. The club's first scheduled home game is on 17 September 2026 against JYP, and in total there are 32 home dates.
A building this size works for both a casual first visit and a crowd that wants to be loud. Public transport serves the area in general terms, so most visitors do not need a car.
The scale of the building also allows a flexible seating choice, with options from close to the ice to higher rows where you can see the whole game develop.
What to expect from Jokerit supporters
After a long gap, Jokerit's first home games are likely to feel like homecomings. Supporters who followed the club in earlier years will fill the lower rows and set the tone, while new fans arrive curious about the team's colours and traditions.
Because the 2026-27 season is a fresh start, there is no settled routine yet for pre-game gatherings. That is part of the fun: you may see new traditions form in real time. Arrive early to take it in, and do not expect the same quiet you might get at a long-established mid-season fixture.
Helsinki's derby: Jokerit and HIFK
Helsinki now has two Liiga clubs again. Jokerit host HIFK on 8 October 2026 and on 22 January 2027, and both dates are the obvious ones to book first.
If you are a neutral, the two-club city is the draw: you can watch one side one week and the other the next without leaving town, which makes a long Helsinki weekend easy to plan.
Booking Jokerit tickets without the stress
With a comeback season, demand for opening games and the HIFK derby is likely to be high, so start with the club's official box office and consider season-ticket priority if you live in Finland.
- Book the HIFK games and the first home game early.
- Check whether a seat is real before using a resale marketplace.
- From abroad, digital tickets save you from collecting anything at the gate.
Remember that the bottom three teams in 2026-27 move to a new B-Liiga, so every point carries weight for a returning club.
The format adds pressure. The 2026-27 season is transitional, with the top four going straight to the quarter-finals and places five to twelve in a wild-card round. The bottom three then move to a new B-Liiga, so a returning club has no time to settle: each home game matters from the first puck drop.
If you travel from abroad, Helsinki makes planning simple. You can combine a Jokerit game and a HIFK game in the same trip, using the derby dates above, and see how the two clubs compare. Many visitors will choose a weekend with one game each night, so book your hotel early.