Tampere’s Tullikamari reopens after 13.7 million euro renovation

Tampere’s Tullikamari concert venue is ready to reopen after a renovation lasting more than a year and a half, Yle reports. The first events will take place around the turn of October and November, including the Tampere Jazz Happening festival.

The protected building underwent extensive work from its basement to its roof. The renovation was estimated to cost 13.7 million euros and was considered necessary to allow concert activities to continue.

Most of the changes are not highly visible because of the building’s protected status. In the Pakkahuone hall, old windows have been restored and the colour scheme refreshed. The project also included a new basement floor, updated building systems and improvements to acoustics and performance technology.

Accessibility has been improved throughout the venue. Lifts now provide access to the stage, audience area and backstage facilities. Some of the bar counter has been lowered, heavy old doors open at the push of a button, and all toilets are unisex.

The main entrance will now be through Tullinaukio. A glass entrance area has been built along the wall, with space for functions such as ticket sales. The area around Pakkahuone Square’s station centre is expected to remain under redevelopment for a long time, making the new entrance a more practical solution, according to Tampere Cultural Chamber production manager Lotta Ahtinen.

The staircase in Pakkahuone has also been widened. The change is expected to make it quicker for crowds to leave, particularly after sold-out concerts.

The venue’s calendar is already full well into 2027. Programme manager Janne Laurila said the reopening felt like a return home, adding that the building had been made more spacious and efficient without losing its distinctive character.

The Tampere Jazz Happening festival will launch the venue’s event programme at Pakkahuone and Klubi. Klubi will continue to serve lunch and operate as a nightclub alongside its concerts. Its back room was the only part of the venue left untouched, and old signatures remain on its walls.

The new backstage area was built on the new basement floor. It includes a spacious kitchen and a sauna, and is soundproofed as a quiet, separate space for performers. The area had not yet been furnished when Yle visited.

Laurila said comfortable backstage facilities are important for domestic and international artists, who may begin their day as early as midday while preparing for performances. The new sauna replaces an earlier sauna on the Klubi side.