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Helsinki's South Harbour covered in broken ice under a grey sky, with the white Helsinki Cathedral rising above the waterfront buildings and the SkyWheel Ferris wheel on the right

Finland

Helsinki

Photo: AleWi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Helsinki is building flood protection at Töölönlahti Bay, testing an AI documentation assistant in its health and social services and preparing 275 new street charging points for electric cars.

Updated · Checked against official sources

  • Population

    694,392 (end of 2025); expected to pass 700,000 in 2026

    2025

  • Mayor

    Daniel Sazonov

    term 2025–2029

  • EU programmes

    5

Latest

  1. Talent and innovation ·

    Helsinki moves 2026–2029 migration and integration programme into implementation

    Helsinki has moved its 2026–2029 Development Programme for Migration and Integration into implementation, aiming to attract, settle and retain international talent as its roughly 150,000 residents of foreign origin are forecast to grow by almost 100,000 by 2045.

    Facts and source
    • The City Board's Economic Development Sub-committee approved the 2026–2029 programme on 22 June.
    • Helsinki has around 150,000 residents of foreign origin, 22 per cent of its population.
    • The 'Welcome Families' activities in Kannelmäki, Malmi and Mellunkylä will be extended to new neighbourhoods.

    Source: Helsinki city hall, “Helsinki seeks growth through international talent”

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  2. Regeneration and housing ·

    Helsinki turns paved Karamzininranta into park square, diverting cyclists to Mannerheimintie

    Helsinki has moved cyclists around Töölönlahti to the one-way cycle tracks on Mannerheimintie from 21 October while it turns paved Karamzininranta, beside Finlandia Hall, into a park-like square with five planting beds, due for completion in July 2027.

    Facts and source
    • From 21 October, bicycle traffic around Töölönlahti moves to the one-way cycle tracks on Mannerheimintie.
    • Much of the paved area of Karamzininranta will become planting areas for shrubs, flowers and deciduous trees.
    • The project runs until July 2027.

    Source: Helsinki city hall, “Karamzininranta to become pleasant extension to Töölönlahdenpuisto Park - Pedestrian and cycling routes around Töölönlahti change starting October 21”

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  3. Mobility ·

    Helsinki proposes renting street parking spaces to operators for 275 new charging points

    Helsinki has proposed renting street parking spaces to charging operators under a 'Helsinki Model', with a first phase of 61 stations and 275 charging points, adding to 441 existing street points, and applications opening in December.

    Facts and source
    • The first phase would make 61 new charging stations with 275 charging points available.
    • There are currently 441 charging points in public street areas.
    • Applications would open in December, with the points due to be in place during 2027.

    Source: Helsinki city hall, “Helsinki aiming for a significant increase in the number of charging points for electric cars”

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  4. Regeneration and housing ·

    Helsinki completes Kaisaniemi Park renovation more than a year ahead of schedule

    Helsinki will complete the renovation of Kaisaniemi Park on Monday, 19 October, more than a year ahead of schedule, adding a new central playground and a dog park, while water basin repairs continue until summer 2027.

    Facts and source
    • The renovation of Kaisaniemi Park will be completed on Monday, 19 October, more than a year ahead of schedule.
    • The renovation began in 2023, with sections of the park opened as they were completed.
    • Repair work on the park's water basin has begun and will continue until summer 2027.

    Source: Helsinki city hall, “Kaisaniemi Park renovation to be completed ahead of schedule”

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  5. AI and technology ·

    Helsinki expands AI documentation assistant pilot to more health and social services

    Helsinki is extending its pilot of an AI-based documentation assistant from physiotherapy and occupational therapy to units in student health services, dental care and social services in October, with client consent required and no client data stored or used for training.

    Facts and source
    • The assistant has been tested in physiotherapy and occupational therapy since the summer.
    • In October the testing expands to units in student health services, dental care and social services, among others.
    • The assistant does not store client data, and the data is not used to train it.

    Source: Helsinki city hall, “We are testing a documentation assistant in health and social services”

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City briefs are drafted with AI from official sources; every fact is matched automatically against the source text before publication, without an editor approving it first.

Projects we track

6 projects · 1 completed · 2 under way

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Töölönlahti flood protection

    A new bridge, flood gates and pumping stations are being built to prevent flooding in Töölönlahti Bay; the site won Helsinki's Roadwork Site of the Year 2026 and is due to be completed in autumn 2027.

    Climate and energy

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Street charging points for electric cars (the 'Helsinki model')

    New rules let operators rent city parking spaces for charging: a first phase of 61 stations with 275 charging points, applications opening in December 2026 and the points due in place during 2027, more than 50% more public charging points.

    Mobility

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    AI documentation assistant in health and social services

    An AI assistant that drafts documentation from the conversation during an appointment, tested in physiotherapy and occupational therapy since summer 2026, is being extended in October to student health services, dental care and social services; it does not store data or train on it.

    AI and technology

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Kamppi Health and Wellbeing Centre

    The eight-storey building over Kamppi metro station was completed on 15 September 2026, more than a year ahead of schedule; the new metro entrance was due to open on 12 October and health services start in spring 2027.

    Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Malmi indoor skatepark and recreation hall

    The unused Malmi ice hall is being turned into a temporary 3,700 m² venue for skateboarding, scootering, BMX, dance and street culture, opening partly around the turn of the year and fully in early 2027, and operating until about spring 2028.

    Culture

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids: eastern channel renovation

    A comparison of options concluded that renovating the eastern channel of the rapids, rather than demolishing the historic dam, is the best way to improve fish migration up the Vantaa River; plans are finalised and permitted, at an estimated cost of around €650,000.

    Budget about €650,000 (estimate) Climate and energy

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

EU programmes and networks

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