NHL Global Series 2026 is Finally Here – Hurricanes and Kraken Clash at Nokia Arena

The wait is finally over. When the clock strikes early October, Helsinki’s Nokia Arena won’t just be Europe’s finest ice hall – it will be the very centre of the hockey universe. The NHL Global Series 2026 lands at Töölönlahti, and it’s bringing two teams ready to tear up the ice: the Carolina Hurricanes and the Seattle Kraken.

I’ve been following this series ever since the rumours started swirling during last season’s playoffs. A lot of people asked whether Helsinki still had what it takes to host an NHL-level event. I always laugh at that question. People here were watching hockey when many of today’s North American teams were just a spark of an idea over a few beers. The atmosphere at Nokia Arena is something else entirely, and now it’s about to host two hungry teams, both with something to prove.

Why These Two Teams?

The Carolina Hurricanes are bringing that fast, physical, and smart brand of hockey they’ve been perfecting for years to Helsinki. They’ve been on the cover of NHL 23, the team so many of us have used to win a virtual Stanley Cup from our living rooms. And now they’re here, for real. In the opposite corner, you’ve got the Seattle Kraken, an expansion team that has already built a reputation as one of the toughest road teams in the league.

Long-time fans will remember what it was like the last time the NHL came to town. But this time is different. It’s not just about a couple of regular-season games away from home – it’s about us Finns getting to show what a real hockey nation looks like. And believe me, it’s not the same as playing EA Sports NHL 26 Xbox Series X with your mates. This is something much, much bigger.

• Dreams Meet Reality: Those moves you’ve perfected in NHL 22 or NHL 23? You’ll see them live, just a few metres away.
• The Arena is Ready: Nokia Arena was built for moments like these. The acoustics, the lights, the atmosphere – this is the NHL’s home rink in Europe.
• A Sense of History: Even though this is all about the future, nights like these remind us why we fell in love with the game. Just like the days spent playing Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens with your siblings, these are the moments you’ll remember forever. Only this time, it’s the real deal on the ice.

How to Experience It Best?

Tickets will be a battleground. If you think you can just stroll in on the night, you’re living in the past. This is the kind of event people will be talking about for years. My advice? Go all in. Before puck drop, the city’s restaurants will be packed with fans from Carolina and Seattle who’ve travelled halfway across the world. They have no idea what it’s like to experience a Finnish hockey crowd at full tilt. They think they know, but they’re wrong.

I’ll be in the arena well ahead of time. I want to hear what it sounds like when the puck drops for the first time. It’s a sound no video game, no matter how realistic, can ever replicate. It’s raw, it’s authentic, and it’s happening right on our doorstep.

If you can’t make it, don’t worry. This will still be the moment when all eyes in Finland turn towards our home rink. Nokia Arena’s name will be in the spotlight, giving us another chance to prove we’re Northern Europe’s undisputed number one when it comes to hosting major hockey events. Not to mention, these two games might just be where the next Finnish NHL star gets their first taste of going up against the league’s biggest names.

So, mark October in your calendar. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the NHL live, this is your moment. This is no exhibition tour. The Hurricanes and Kraken are coming here to win, and we’ll be there for every second of it.