Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at a press conference in Helsinki on 20 July 2026. The government met in an extraordinary session to discuss the funding decision for the Garden Helsinki project ahead of its statement to Parliament tomorrow. Photo: Vilja Sirviö / Lehtikuva
Finland’s government has withdrawn its support for a planned €35 million state subsidy for the Garden Helsinki arena project after weeks of dispute over lobbying, political links and the basis for the funding decision.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced the move on Monday after an extraordinary government session. He said the four governing parties had agreed that the project no longer had political backing.
“This government will no longer advance this state aid,” Orpo told reporters.
The government approved the conditional subsidy during its spending talks in spring 2025. No state money has been paid to the project.
