Set on the shore of the Bothnian Bay in northern Finland, Oulu is a city where cutting-edge technology meets sea air and a vibrant cultural scene.
Throughout 2026, Oulu and 39 surrounding municipalities will host an ambitious year-long programme of art, music, performance and community-led events under the theme Cultural Climate Change. The concept reflects both environmental awareness and a desire to foster a cultural climate where people can enjoy fun, joyful and eye-opening creative experiences.
The Oulu2026 cultural region extends well beyond the city itself, encompassing destinations such as Kajaani, Tornio, Ii, Kuusamo and Kalajoki. Visitors can expect a calendar packed with experiences across all seasons, from winter festivals on frozen seas to long summer evenings filled with food, music and light.
Full programme: Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture
Highlights from the year ahead:
PLAY – Fotografiska Tallinn × Oulu2026
Sage Sohier’s photograph Perfectible Worlds, Man at radio-controlled sailboat regatta, Gilford, NH, 2003. Photo: Sage Sohier
January 14–December 31, 2026
For the first time, Fotografiska Tallinn brings a major photography exhibition to Finland. PLAY, a group exhibition by 17 international artists, explores play as a force of joy and connection but also as a form of escape. Featuring works by photographers such as Martin Parr, Jouko Lehtola, Susan Meiselas and Cristina de Middel, the exhibition is curated by Fotografiska Tallinn’s brand director Jorven Viilik. A bespoke soundscape by Estonian musician Erki Pärnoja completes the experience.
Layers of the Peace Machine
Layers of the Peace Machine is an immersive, multi-part work by Ekho Collective. Photo: Linnea Laatikainen
January 15– December 31, 2026
Installed at Oulu City Hall, this immersive, multi-part work by Ekho Collective examines peace as an active and ongoing process. Inspired by AI researcher Timo Honkela’s Peace Machine, the installation invites visitors to participate through movement, sound, language and interaction.
Ovllá – Opera
January 16–February 28, 2026 (19 performances)
Opening Oulu’s Capital of Culture year, Ovllá brings Sámi perspectives to the main stage of Oulu Theatre. The opera addresses the lasting impact of state-led oppression on the Sámi, the only recognised Indigenous People in the EU area. Their northern homeland, called Sápmi, is divided into four parts by the borders of the nation-states Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia.
Written by Juho-Sire/Siri Broch Johansen, with music by Finnish composer Cecilia Damström, the production is both politically resonant and artistically ambitious. It is performed in Northern Sámi and Finnish with subtitles in English.
Ice sauna
February 18–27, 2026
A distinctly Finnish experience: a community-built ice sauna, open to all and operated by the Oulu Sauna Association. After a week in the city, the structure will be transported to the Frozen People Festival.
Frozen People Festival
Frozen People is a festival held on a frozen sea. Don’t forget to bring your woollen mittens! Photo: Harri Tarvainen
February 28–March 1, 2026
An electronic music and northern arts festival staged on the frozen sea at Nallikari Beach. Expect installations, light art, performances and a mix of local and international electronic music talent, all framed by snow, ice and open horizons.
Climate Clock Public Art Trail
Climate Clock brings art to nature. Photo: Harri Tarvainen
Opening June 13, 2026
One of Oulu2026’s most significant productions, Climate Clock combines art, science and nature across six sites in the wider Oulu region, inviting reflection on ecological time, resilience and adaptability. Artists include Rana Begum, SUPERFLEX and Antti Laitinen, with curation by Alice Sharp (Invisible Dust, UK). The six permanent artworks are joined by The Most Valuable Clock in the World, a piece created by artists Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen with input from local residents.
Summer Night’s Dinner
Summer Night’s Dinner is an opportunity to eat your favourite meal in a superb location. Photo: Kevin Kallombo
August 15, 2026
A kilometre-long communal table stretches across central Oulu for one relaxed summer evening. Residents and visitors are invited to bring their own food and share a moment of togetherness in a simple yet powerful celebration of food, culture and community under the northern sky.
Lumo Light Festival
Oculucis by Italian artist Hermes Mangialardo appeared at Lumo Light Festival in 2025. Photo: Linnea Laatikainen
November 19–22, 2026
As autumn darkness sets in, Lumo Light Festival illuminates Oulu with light installations, regional events and special Lumo-themed restaurant menus. The festival turns the city into a glowing canvas, proving that winter can be a season of creativity.
Oulu Sinfonia: Beyond the Sky
November 19–21, 2026 (five performances)
An immersive orchestral experience combining Jukka-Pekka Metsävainio’s astrophotography with music by Lauri Porra. Conducted by Dalia Stasevska, the performance explores humanity’s relationship with the cosmos, science, myth and history.
Oulu at a glance: local tips
Oulu is a venerable city where you’re never far from the river or the sea. Photo: Rosa Ruuskanen, Visit Oulu
With a population of around 217,000, Oulu is the largest city in northern Finland, founded in 1605. Long known as a technology hub, the city balances innovation with easy access to nature and a relaxed coastal rhythm.
Ulla Pirttijärvi & Ulda performed modern Sámi music at the Sámi National Day concert in Oulu in 2024. Photo: Sanna Krook
Don’t miss the Toripoliisi (Market Square Policeman) statue, a rotund local icon standing guard on Market Square, or the wide sandy beaches of Nallikari, often dubbed the Riviera of the North. The Oulu Museum of Art offers a strong focus on contemporary works, while nearby Hailuoto Island is ideal for slowing down with sea views, dunes and a historic lighthouse.
Stop by Oulu Market Hall (1901) for local delicacies and everyday life under one roof.
Oulu is easy to reach from Helsinki: around five and a half hours by train, or just over one hour by air.
Text by Emilia Kangasluoma, January 2026
