Bandy World Championships Coming to Finland – the Tournament will be played in Pori on January 12–18, 2026

Chair of the Finnish Bandy Association, Antti Parviainen, expresses great excitement about the decision:

– This is a major victory for Finnish bandy tradition – the World Championships are returning to Finland after 25 years. A tremendous amount of work has gone into this bid, and we owe a big thank you to the City of Pori and bandy club Narukerä for their early and enthusiastic support. Now that the decision is official, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Personally, I hope to see strong backing from the business community and the entire bandy and sports family for this historic event, says Parviainen.

Finnish national team captain, local talent from bandy club Narukerä and key player for Sweden’s Edsbyn IF in the Elitserien, Samuli Helavuori, was also thrilled by the news:

– Hearing that the World Championships will be held in Pori feels surreal – and absolutely amazing. It’s been a long time since I last played in Pori, and now there’s a chance to bring home a second world title for Finland, following our 2004 victory, envisiones Helavuori.

For the City of Pori, the event is historic. No world-class competitions in bandy have ever been held in Pori before. As the host city, Pori will welcome a major international event that is expected to fill hotels for a full week in the heart of winter.

– We warmly welcome the world’s best bandy players to Pori. As a city, we are committed to enabling year-round events, and now we’ll have the chance to witness

the top athletes of this traditional sport right here in January. We are extremely pleased,” says Mayor of the Pori city Lauri Inna.

Chairperson of the bandy club Narukerä from Pori Jani Raukko received the news with humility:

– Our club is celebrating its 60th anniversary this season. Hosting the World Championships will be a massive volunteer effort, but I know our dedicated members will rise to the occasion. This historic opportunity adds something truly special to our anniversary year. I hope the people of Pori and the surrounding region, as well as local businesses, will join us in making this event a success. Our goal is to fill the stands with fans of all ages to experience the unique spirit of this sporting celebration, concludes Raukko.

The official decision to hold the Bandy World Championships in Finland and in the city of Pori was made by the Board of The Federation of International Bandy (FIB) in its meeting on June 24, 2025.