Tampere hotels block bookings ahead of potential Eurovision win

Several hotels in Tampere have already removed rooms from sale for May next year in anticipation of Finland’s possible Eurovision Song Contest victory, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Major hotel chains including Sokos, Lapland, and Scandic have confirmed that bookings for the period are temporarily unavailable. The move aims to secure accommodation for event organisers, participants, and media should Finland win this year’s contest and host in 2025.

“Rooms have been taken off the market for now until we know how things will proceed with Eurovision,” said Mikko Kankaanpää, business director at Sokos Hotels Tampere. Lapland Hotels Arena’s manager Janne Mönkkö confirmed the same approach.

The decision has already driven up prices on remaining listings. On Booking.com, private accommodations for two nights in mid-May 2025 are listed at over €2,000 in some cases. Sokos Hotels noted that dynamic pricing would apply once bookings reopen, with high demand likely pushing rates higher.

Tampere has publicly expressed readiness to host Eurovision 2025 if Finland wins, though Helsinki has also signaled interest. The city’s hotel capacity has grown by roughly 30% over the past decade, but availability for fans remains uncertain.

“Our priority is ensuring accommodation for competitors, their support teams, and media,” Kankaanpää said. “The event itself won’t hinge on whether Tampere has enough rooms—it’s more about how much capacity will be left for fans.”

Eurovision 2024’s semi-finals take place on 12 and 14 May, with the final on 17 May.