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Government Palace The Government Palace overlooking Senate Square is a national memorial and key monument of Finnish architecture and cultural and political history. The building’s name at different times: 1822–1918 House of the Senate 1918– Gover...

27.5.2026 | Starting on 2 July 2026, government sessions will be held in the Government Banquet Hall on Eteläesplanadi. During the renovation, the ministers who work at the Government Palace and the personnel of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Chancellor of Justice will mostly move to the building located next to the Banquet Hall at Eteläesplanadi 4. 

Visiting government buildings While government offices and official premises are not normally open to the general public, open house events are held from time to time. The Government’s next open house event will take place at the Prime Minister’s ...

Government premises and art collection The main Government premises are located in the Government Palace by Senate Square. Today, the Government Palace houses the Prime Minister’s Office, the Office of the Chancellor of Justice and some department...

Government Banquet Hall The Government Banquet Hall, also known as Smolna, is located on Eteläesplanadi, which runs alongside Esplanade Park in central Helsinki. It serves as a banqueting and negotiating premises for the Government and the Prime M...

Presidential portraits The portraits of all the Presidents of Finland are located in the Government Palace: in the Presidential Room and its waiting room. Presidentti Sauli Niinistö Sata taiteilijaa, 2018 Presidentti Tarja Halonen Rafael Wardi, 20...

Arppeanum The Arppeanum building was designed by architect Carl Albert Edelfelt and was completed in 1869. It was originally used as a laboratory and museum by the Department of Chemistry at the Imperial Alexander University, which is now the Univ...

Instructions for visitors The visitors' entrance to the Government Palace is via the Information Desk (VN Infopiste), which is through the main entrance on Snellmaninkatu. Please make sure to arrange this in advance with the Government Security Co...

House of the Estates The House of the Estates is a cultural and historical monument and a government meeting and reception venue located on Snellmaninkatu in the Kruununhaka district of Helsinki, opposite the Bank of Finland. Many people are famil...

3.6.2026 | Prime Minister Petteri Orpo met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on 3 June. Their discussions focused on bilateral relations, the defence industry, the situation in Ukraine and the EU’s multiannual financial framework.

29.5.2026 | Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will open the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris on 3 June. Finland will chair the meeting for the first time in more than 40 years. Several ministers from Finland will attend the meeting. In Paris, Prime Minister Orpo will also have a bilateral meeting with the French President Emmanuel Macron.

26.6.2025 | The Government Palace will open its doors to the public on Saturday 6 September 2025 at 8.00–17.00. More information about the open house event, along with practical instructions, will be provided in August.

19.2.2026 | Ukraine and its people have been resisting Russia’s full-scale invasion for four years. The Finnish Government will show its solidarity with Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on the anniversary of the start of Russia’s war of aggression on 24 February 2026. The Government Palace, Merikasarmi, Helsinki Cathedral, the main building of the University of Helsinki and Helsinki City Hall will be illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

8.8.2025 | For its main title of expenditure, the Prime Minister's Office proposes an appropriation of EUR 245.2 million for 2026. The draft budget appropriations cover the operating expenses of both the Prime Minister’s Office and those of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice, the salary expenses of ministers, state secretaries and special advisers, as well as subsidies to political parties, among other things.

24.11.2025 | The UN’s international Orange the World campaign to end violence against women begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November. This year, the focus of the campaign is on eradicating digital violence against women and girls.

25.2.2026 | Varkaus – a living industrial cultural heritage – was awarded the Cultural Heritage Label by the European Commission. The label is designated to sites located in the European Union that strongly embody the history, culture and integration of Europe.

22.9.2025 | A total of EUR 238.8 million in appropriations is proposed for the main title of the Prime Minister’s Office. The draft budget appropriations cover the operating expenses of both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Office of the Chancellor of Justice, the salary expenses of ministers, state secretaries and special advisers, as well as subsidies to political parties, among other things.

22.8.2025 | Finland’s state leadership will attend events marking Ukraine’s independence day in Helsinki.

4.12.2023 | A total of 536 children from 266 municipalities took part in the children's Independence Day celebration at the Government Palace on 4 December. At the beginning of the celebration, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo shook hands with each guest and welcomed them personally to the event. The celebration was organised by the Prime Minister's Office, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children.

13.11.2025 | Nordic ministers responsible for civil preparedness or their deputies will meet in Helsinki on 13 November. This so-called Haga ministerial meeting will be chaired by Finnish Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen. The ministers will discuss topical issues related to crisis preparedness in the Nordic countries.

24.2.2025 | Ukraine and its people have been fighting against Russia’s illegal war of aggression for three years. The Finnish Government will show its solidarity with Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on the anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion on 24 February. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. The Presid...

22.11.2024 | November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, as designated by the United Nations (UN). Violence against women is also a significant problem in Finland, and solving this problem is everyone’s responsibility. The Government Palace and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in orange as part of the international campaign.

9.9.2022 | Members of the public will have a rare opportunity to explore the Government Palace and House of the Estates at an open house event for the palace’s 200th anniversary on Sunday 25 September. The Government Palace and House of the Estates will open their doors to the public on 25 September at 9.00.

18.6.2025 | The Strategic Research Council (SRC) has decided the strategic research themes it proposes to the Finnish Government for 2026. Mikael Fogelholm, Chair of the SRC, submitted the proposal to State Secretary Risto Artjoki on 18 June 2025 at the Government Palace.

22.8.2024 | In honour of Ukrainian Independence Day on Saturday 24 August, the Government will fly the Ukrainian flag at Senate Square in front of the Government Palace and at Martti Ahtisaari Square in the courtyard of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building Merikasarmi, which will also be illuminated in blue and yellow in the evening.

16.3.2022 | In its meeting on 16 March 2022, the Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy decided to support the plan to modernise government premises.

4.2.2022 | Designed by the distinguished German architect Carl Ludvig Engel, the main Government Palace building in Helsinki was completed in 1822. A new trilingual book 200 Years of the Government Palace provides an illustrated history of the building.

9.2.2024 | In connection with the presidential session on Friday 9 November 2024, the Government thanked President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö for the excellent cooperation during his terms in office. Niinistö’s term as President of the Republic will end on 1 March 2024.

30.1.2025 | The EU leaders will meet for an informal retreat in Brussels on 3 February. The main topic on the agenda will be European defence. The leaders will also meet for discussions with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will represent Finland at the meeting.

11.6.2024 | The Strategic Research Council (SRC) has decided on the research themes it will propose to the Government for 2025. Chair of the Strategic Research Council Anu Kaukovirta submitted the proposal to State Secretary Risto Artjoki on 11 June 2024 at the Government Palace.

22.2.2024 | Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. The Finnish Government will show its solidarity with Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on the anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion on Saturday 24 February. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

21.5.2025 | FINNISH GOVERNMENT PO Box 23, FI-00023 Government, Finland vn.fi/en Tel. +358 295 16001 VALTIONEUVOSTO PL 23, 00023 Valtioneuvosto vn.fi p. 0295 16001 1(44) Useful phrases for correspondence This collection of useful phrases for correspondence in ...

19.6.2023 | The new Government of Finland will be appointed on Tuesday 20 June. On Monday 19 June, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö will meet with Speaker of Parliament and leader of the government formation talks Petteri Orpo at Mäntyniemi and then inform Parliament of the nominee for Prime Minister.

19.6.2023 | The new Government of Finland will be appointed on Tuesday 20 June. On Monday 19 June, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö will meet with Speaker of Parliament and leader of the government formation talks Petteri Orpo at Mäntyniemi and then inform Parliament of the nominee for Prime Minister.

22.2.2023 | Friday 24 February marks the one-year anniversary of Russia starting its full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Finland strongly condemns Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Finnish Government will show its support to Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on 24 February.

27.11.2023 | Two children born in 2013 from each municipality of Finland have been invited to the Government Palace for the celebration. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will personally welcome each guest at the start of the event. Ministers Riikka Purra, Sari Multala and Sari Essayah will also be in attendance.

8.11.2023 | Many of the guests invited to former president Martti Ahtisaari’s state funeral reflect his decades-long international career. The state funeral on Friday 10 November will be attended by several international dignitaries.

3.11.2023 | More than 800 invited guests are expected to attend the state funeral of former President of the Republic Martti Ahtisaari in Helsinki on Friday 10 November. In addition to state protocol, the invited guests will reflect former president Ahtisaari’s decades-long international career.

20.6.2023 | Sanna Marin spoke on the outgoing Government’s farewell visit to the Presidential Palace on 20 June 2023. Speech to be checked against delivery.

23.2.2023 | Friday 24 February marks the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will mark the day in many ways. Finland wants to show its solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and to commemorate the victims of Russia’s aggression.