Photo: Suomalaisuuden Liitto
At Balderin Sali Hall in Helsinki: Battle of Ideas
Saturday, 31 October 2026 at Balderin Sali Hall, Helsinki
About this event
Battle of Ideas takes place on Saturday, 31 October 2026 at Balderin Sali Hall, Helsinki. Tickets start at €12.50.
- 18+ only
International conversation festival. Six debates, three in Finnish and three in English + two lunchtimes shorts in English.
Battle of Ideas is an annual, international festival of debate which been running for over 20 years. The festival starts with a two-day event in London in October and then expands across Europe.
In Helsinki, the event hosts a day of panel discussions on important political, social and cultural issues, featuring a diverse lineup of European and Finnish speakers.
Read more ↓
The festival is a meeting place for people and ideas to promote discussion and debate. The event hosts a series of conversations for the public, with the public, in public. The mottos are free speech allowed and free thinkers welcome.
Programme:
11:30 Registration and coffee
12:30 Welcomes and introductions
12:35 Panel debate: Populism: giving the people a voice?
14:15 Panel debates
War on words? The battles over language / Dystopia versus Utopia: is AI changing everything?
15:15-16:15 Lunch break
15:20-16:05 Lunchtime shorts
Meet the authors: Eric Kaufmann and Frank Furedon on cultural renewal / Europe’s free-speech crisis: launching the fightback
16:15 Panel debates
GenZ: the lost generation? / Independence: does the nation state still matter?
17:30 Closing panel debate. Free speech: should we have the right to be offensive?
18:45-19:30 Drinks reception
Balder Hall
Event details
- Date
- Saturday, 31 October 2026
- Time
- 14:00 – 21:30 local time
- Venue
- Balderin Sali Hall
- Address
- Aleksanterinkatu 12, 00170, Helsinki, Finland
- Price
- €12.50
- Category
- Festivals
- Age
- 18+
- Organiser
- Suomalaisuuden Liitto
Venue & getting there
Balderin Sali Hall
Aleksanterinkatu 12, 00170, Helsinki
How to get to Balderin Sali Hall
- Metro Helsingin yliopistoMetro / subway500 m
6 min walk - Kaisaniemen MetroasemaMetro / subway500 m
6 min walk - RautatieasemaTrain780 m
10 min walk
Parking
4 car parks within walking distance, the closest 310 m away.
Hotels near Balderin Sali Hall
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Your visit to Balderin Sali Hall
- Date
- Saturday, 31 October 2026
- Starts
- 14:00
- Getting there
- Metro Helsingin yliopisto (metro / subway), 500 m – about 6 min on foot
- Parking
- 4 car parks within walking distance, the closest 310 m away
- Staying nearby
- 10 hotels within walking distance; the closest is M/S Muikku (190 m)
Good to know
When is “Battle of Ideas”?
Battle of Ideas takes place on Saturday, 31 October 2026 at 14:00 local time.
Where is “Battle of Ideas” held?
Venue: Balderin Sali Hall, Aleksanterinkatu 12, 00170, Helsinki, Finland.
How much are tickets for “Battle of Ideas”?
Tickets are listed from €12.50. Prices can change with demand, so check the official seller for the latest availability.
Is “Battle of Ideas” suitable for children?
This event has an age restriction of 18+.
Where can I buy tickets for “Battle of Ideas”?
Tickets are sold through the official listing linked on this page, where you can check availability and the final price.
How do I get to Balderin Sali Hall by public transport?
The closest stop is Metro Helsingin yliopisto (metro / subway), 500 m from Balderin Sali Hall – roughly 6 minutes on foot.
Can I park near Balderin Sali Hall?
There are 4 car parks within walking distance; the nearest is 310 m away.
