Ocean Tank renovation
SEA LIFE Helsinki has been closed since 20 October 2025 due to extensive renovation work. During the renovation, we have been renewing our Ocean Tank and the exhibition area surrounding it. The redesigned area, “Sea at night”, will open to the public on 13 February 2026.
At first, when the area opens, the Ocean Tank windows will still be covered, and the animals living in the tank will not yet be visible. The Ocean Tank underwater tunnel will also be temporarily out of use. The fully renewed Ocean Tank will be revealed to the public in its entirety during spring 2026. We will announce the exact opening date later.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the Ocean Tank renovation and thank you for your understanding.
Although the Ocean Tank is still under renovation for a little while longer, most of the animals in our exhibition can be seen as usual, and our staff will be on site to assist and guide you. The renewed interactive area, “Sea at night”, is now open to the public, and you can read more about this stunning exhibition area here.
As part of the renovation, the Ocean Tank itself will soon reopen fully renewed and more spectacular than ever. Highly anticipated new residents will also be moving into the renovated tank.
Questions and answers about the Ocean tank renovation
Although maintenance work is still being carried out in the Ocean Tank and it will remain closed to visitors for a little while longer, the majority of our tanks and animals can be viewed as normal. Thanks to the refurbishment, the exhibition will be even more spectacular than before.
Even though the Ocean Tank itself is currently out of use, we have already completed the surrounding area, which now features new theming as well as a brand-new interactive exhibition experience. You can read more about the new exhibition area here.
During your visit, you can also explore the rainforest area, admire the colourful fish of the tropical zone, visit Stingray Bay, discover the interactive rockpool, and learn more at Conservation Cove.
In addition, a new attraction called Octopus Cave has been built in the former SEA LAB space during the autumn. For an additional fee, you can experience a completely new VR adventure there.
There’s plenty to see and do for the whole family. Welcome and enjoy your visit!
The Ocean Tank area and its tunnel will remain closed for a while longer due to renovation work. A temporary route past the Ocean Tank runs straight from the Sea at Night area to the Bay of Rays and is marked on the map above.
SEA LIFE Helsinki will turn 24 next year, and although the centre has been well maintained and regularly updated over the years, a more extensive refurbishment is sometimes necessary.
We are currently undergoing a major renewal, centred around our largest and most impressive tank: the 250,000-litre Ocean Tank, which can be viewed both from the side and from below through the underwater tunnel. During the renovation, the tank is being fully refurbished and rethemed to provide an even better home for the animals and an even more visually stunning and inspiring experience for our visitors. The renewed tank will also welcome some highly anticipated new residents.
We are also updating other exhibition areas, and the Ocean Tank area will feature not only new theming but also a brand-new interactive Sea at Night exhibition experience.
In addition, we are updating SEA LIFE’s behind-the-scenes areas, which visitors can explore during our Behind the Scenes tour. Behind the Scenes tours will return to our programme offering in April. Our goal is to give an even clearer insight into how everyday life at the aquarium operates behind the scenes and what animal care truly involves.
We are working hard to make your future visit even more memorable, so thank you for your patience during these major improvements!
During the winter season, SEA LIFE is a great family-friendly attraction, and we want to offer families enjoyable activities during the cold and rainy early months of the year. The renovation work is clearly confined to its own area, and visitors are guided past it via a temporary route.
Although the exhibition is slightly more limited at the start of the year due to renovation work, there is still plenty to see and enjoy, as most of the tanks and animals remain available as normal.
During the renovation of the Ocean Tank, visitors can explore the rainforest, tropical area, the Bay of Rays, Rockpool, and Conservation Cove, and learn more about the oceans.
Additionally, a new Octopus Cave has been built during the autumn in the former SEA LAB space, where you can try a completely new VR experience for an additional fee.
The Ocean Tank is currently under renovation, so the three blacktip reef sharks and the bamboo shark that live there will not be visible during this period. However, most of our sharks live in the Bay of Rays, which remains open as normal. During the renovation, you can still see the nursehound, Small-spotted catsharks and pyjama sharks. You can read more about the sharks on display here.
