Sibeliusmuseum

About the museum

The Sibeliusmuseum (Sibelius Museum) was founded in 1926, when Otto Andersson (1879–1969) became Finland’s first professor of musicology and folk-song research at Åbo Akademi. Alongside the seminar library, he collected music-historical material such as scores, instruments, letters and pictures. Until 1949 the collections were called the Åbo Akademi music-historical collections.

At the turn of 1948–1949 Andersson asked Jean Sibelius whether the collections could bear his name. The composer gave his consent, and the collections became the Sibelius Museum. The museum is part of the Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi (Åbo Akademi Foundation), and in 2026 the museum celebrates its centenary.

The museum building on Biskopsgatan was designed by Woldemar Baeckman and inaugurated in 1968. It is a low house of two floors, partly below ground level, and an example of 1960s modernism in the form of concrete brutalism. The building was planned around the concert hall, the Sibeliussalen, with a square atrium courtyard beside it. The courtyard, now Sibbe Atrium, is open to visitors and is used for summer concerts.

The museum has an extensive instrument collection and a large music archive. The exhibitions present the life and works of Sibelius, musical instruments and sound reproduction, and concerts and other events are held regularly in the house.

Highlights

• The exhibition on Jean Sibelius
• The instrument collection and the instrument exhibition on sound reproduction
• The organ hall
• Sibeliussalen (Sibelius Hall) with regular concerts
• Sibbe Atrium, the atrium courtyard of the brutalist building from 1968

Permanent exhibitions

• Sibelius-utställningen – The exhibition presents the composer Jean Sibelius.
• Instrumentutställningen: Ljudåtergivning – Exhibition on instruments for sound reproduction from the museum’s instrument collection.

Founded

1926

Operated by

Stiftelsen för Åbo Akademi

Director

Teemu Kirjonen

Visitors per year

approx. 10,524

Admission & discounts

The Museikortet (Finnish Museum Card) is valid. Free admission for school classes with a teacher and for visits only to the Sibbe Atrium. ePassi, press cards and ICOM cards are accepted. Visits outside opening hours are possible for an additional fee.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance is reached by a low, short staircase or a ramp. A wheelchair can be used on the ground floor, where there are resting points along the exhibitions; a rollator and a walking stick also work. There is no lift, and the lower floor is not accessible for visitors who cannot use stairs. The concert hall is reached by a short staircase or a ramp. The toilets are on the ground floor to the left of the main entrance, and there is also an accessible toilet there. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome. To reach the accessible parking space next to the main entrance, call the museum ticket desk at +358 50 337 6906.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

Pushchairs can be taken into the building. School classes and day-care groups have their own programmes.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Museum shop. Bags and rucksacks may be taken in, but they can also be left in the lockers in the cloakroom or at the ticket desk.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Plan your visit