In the days of wooden sail ships, Oulu’s tar helped connect the world, and in 2026, Finland’s fifth-largest city is once again establishing connections by facilitating a ‘cultural climate change’. As one of the two European Capitals of Culture 2026, the city has set out to broaden understanding and forge connections through culture and art.
Oulu’s grand 2026 event program set off with ice instrument tunes and large crowds during the Opening Celebration from January 16 to 18. Over the course of three days, 200 events took place, and thousands more will follow throughout the year. While the rich program is centered around Oulu, 39 other municipalities of the region also contribute to the cultural program.
As part of the program, year-long exhibitions, performances and events will showcase the local culture and art, while shining a spotlight on climate change and the Sámi culture.
I had the opportunity to visit the city during the Oulu 2026 opening celebrations as a journalist hosted by Visit Oulu and Oulu 2026. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.
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CULTURAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Under the umbrella of the theme “Cultural Climate Change”, Oulu strives for a lasting enriched cultural life in the city and seeks to facilitate new connections between people in Oulu and the world. With the intentions of the programmed ingrained in every exhibition and event, travelers visiting Oulu in 2026 will leave the city with more than just a deeper understanding of the local culture.
It is a journey towards broader understanding of each other and recognizing one’s own contributions to a trustful, sharing, and caring cultural climate.
The vision of Oulu 2026 unfolds through all of its events, and the entire world is invited to come and immerse themselves in the city’s creativity, culture, and natural surroundings.
Over the course of the year, the Oulu 2026 program is divided into three themes:
- Winter & Spring — Brave Hinterland: Get to know the remote area of extremes that is impacted by climate change and supplies both hardships and beauty. It is also the time to experience the Sámi culture.
- Summer — Wild City: As summer takes hold, the dark nights give way to a vibrant city life full of culture and art. Explore the city, its nature and taste the flavors of the North.
- Autumn & Winter — Cool Contrasts: The darkest time of the year focuses on the contrasts that define the region. In Oulu, the endless light of the midnight sun contrasts the sunless winter, and art and technology meet. Experience how art and culture help rebalance these contrasts.
Exhibitions & Programs
As part of the Oulu 2026 program, the city has organized a series of year-long exhibitions and programs that center around cultural climate change in its different forms. While some of them focus on the elements of connection and peace, others emphasize the climate change element of the guiding theme.
Layers of the Peace Machine
Layers of the Peace Machine is one of the key projects of the Oulu 2026 program. Located inside Oulu’s City Hall, this immersive four-part installation by Ekho Collective spreads over multiple floors while also extending into the virtual space where it can be accessed from around the world.
Merging art and the technology Oulu is known for, the project explores peace as the result of a positive cultural climate full of connections, understanding and participation.
The viewer’s interaction with the artwork and other observers directly affects its appearance. As such, it reflects how every individual has the ability to influence peace and the cultural climate.
It is an installation that invited visitors to reflect on their perception of peace, and with its ever-evolving appearance, it serves as a reminder that peace is never a fixed state but an ongoing, ever-changing process.
PLAY
Inspired by theme ‘Cultural Climate Change’, the PLAY exhibition jointly created by Fotografiska Tallinn and Oulu2026 showcases 17 different perspectives of ‘play’. The photo series by different international artists all have very distinctive styles and yet they merge to create a uniting message of ‘play’ being present in all stages of life and being used to connect with others and ourselves.
As you walk through the exhibition, some series will make you smile, while others encourage you to contemplate social conventions. As a whole, it is a thought-provoking exhibition that leaves a lasting impact.
On a personal level, there were two photo series that particularly spoke to me. The first is the “They don’t look like me” collection by Niccolò Rastrelli which shows cosplayers with their parents.
It is a wonderful reflection on non-judgemental self-expression across cultures and continents, and serves as a stark reminder that connections exist despite the differences we might perceive at first glance.
The other series that intrigued me is “Crowded Fields” by Pelle Cass. It is a series of portraits that were shot from a fixed point and where the movements of objects and people were superimposed through layering. Thanks to the vibrant colors, there is something instinctively joyful about the images. And as you keep looking at the individual images, you start to see a beautiful order in the chaos of the scene where every movement and person contribute to create a beautiful visual symphony of connection.
Arctic Food Lab
The Arctic Food Lab is not a singular event, but an entire program that invites travelers to taste the flavors of Northern Finland. It involves over 160 businesses ranging from producers, restaurants, bars, and experiences that work together to turn the local food into a gateway to Northern nature, culture and creativity.
To gain access through authentic local life, travelers do not have to search for Arctic Food Lab, as they will encounter it everywhere. In Oulu and the other municipalities, more than 50 restaurants and cafes serve food that highlights the unique flavors of wild local food.
Of the participating restaurants in Oulu, I can personally recommend Sokeri-Jussin Tavern, Restaurant Mallassauna and Ravintola Oula.
All three have different concepts, with the uniting factor being that they allow those dining there to understand the North through its flavors.
In addition to meals which showcase Arctic food, the program also includes cocktails and mocktails that are made with at least two local ingredients. These drinks are inspired by the ‘Brave Hinterland’ theme and are a reflection of the Northern identity. More information about the themed drinks and where to drink them can be found here.
Earworm
“Video. Music. Joy. Critical. Movement.” According to curator Saara Karhunento, these five words best describe the collection of works part of ‘Earworm’. The exhibition received its name from the phenomenon of ‘earworms’ which Karhunento herself experienced while curating the exhibition. The collection consists of six video works from the media art collection of the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. All have the common theme of ‘sound and music’ playing an integral part in shaping the narrative of the artwork.
These video works all have a reference to Oulu, the region and the cultural life. Hereby, the connection of Oulu and the art is a reflection of the city’s close relation to technology. Created during different decades, the individual artworks mirror the time during which they were created. Therefore, the art serves as a gateway to a specific moment in time.
Climate Clock
The Climate Clock public art trail does not open until June 13, but it consists of six permanent artworks in different locations. One of them is in the city center of Oulu, but the other ones in Haukipudas, Kiiminki, Oulunsalo, Yli-Ii, and Ylikiiminki are located outside of the towns and in places that locals appreciate for their natural beauty.
As part of the Brave Hinterland subtopic, these artworks by international artists explore the topic of climate change and the nature of the Oulu region. Its name hints at the limited time we have to protect nature from further devastating consequences of climate change.
With the individual locations being places in danger due to climate change, the art trail aims to raise environmental awareness while simultaneously allowing people to reconnect with nature.
The Most Valuable Clock in the World is the seventh part of the Climate Clock art project. Its value is measured by the significance of the moments displayed by the clock. While the hour hand displays valuable moments from nature, the minute hand showcases everyday moments. Meanwhile, the second hand of the clock shows important moments shared by people of Oulu themselves.
Special Events in Oulu
Alongside the year-long events and exhibitions, the Oulu 2026 program also includes limited-time events. These can range from single day events like performances and lectures, to multi-day events. For international travelers the following events are of particular interest as they are based on annual Oulu events.
Nallikari Snowfest (11.2 – 15.2) — In Oulu, snow is not just snow, but also a resource that can be used to create art. During the Nallikari Snowfest international teams compete to sculpt the most captivating snow sculpture. After the competition, the sculptures can be seen at the sculpture park until the snow melts.
Frozen People 2026 (28.2 – 1.3) — In late February, the icy celebrations in Oulu continue with the only music festival on the frozen sea. With its unique combination of electronic music and Northern art, Frozen People perfectly showcases the wild side of this city that uses art and culture to breathe life into the long, cold winters of the region.
I had the chance to dance the cold away at Frozen People festival two years ago and can only encourage travelers to attend the festival in 2026.
Pikifestival (4.7) — As the midnight sun reigns, Oulu’s art and culture hub Pikisaari comes alive during the Pikifestival. Art studios on the island open their doors, live music fills the air, and restaurants provide the flavors of the north making the festival the perfect time to dive into Oulu’s vibrant culture.
Summer Night’s Dinner (15.8) — Food has the ability to connect people and therefore plays a vital role in improving the cultural climate. As such, the Summer Night’s Dinner is both a celebration of connections and Northern food. While sitting alongside people from all walks of life at a large communal table, stories are shared and new friendships are forged through shared flavors of Arctic food.
Air Guitar World Championships (26.8 – 29.8) — With the conviction that “air guitars are for world peace, because if you hold an air guitar, you cannot hold a gun”, the Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu have been on the frontline of invoking a cultural climate change long before it became the theme of Oulu 2026. As such, attending the 30th Championship while experiencing all the other cultural events happening in Oulu this year is a match made in air guitar heaven.
Lumo Art & Tech Festival (13.11 – 22.11) — This expanded version of the Lumo Light Festival blends art and technology through a series of digital art works and events. Alongside light installations that bring together people by lighting up the dark, long November nights, the festival also includes four performances of the immersive ‘Beyond the Sky’ tone poem by the Oulu Symphony Orchestra.
You can find the full overview of all events taking place in Oulu and the other municipalities throughout the year on the official website.
Spotlight: Sámi Culture
The Oulu 2026 program also casts a spotlight on the culture and traditions of the Sámi people, the only Indigenous people in the European Union. Hereby, two program points stand out, and travelers should plan their Oulu trip now to ensure they do not miss them.
‘Eanangiella – Voice of the Land’, an exhibition of Sámi art can be visited at the Oulu Art Museum until the end of May, while the opera Ovllá has a limited running time until the end of February. The opera portrays the Sámi perspective of their forced assimilation and the reclaiming of cultural identity.
Getting to Oulu
By Plane
Travelers looking to fly to Oulu, can take one of the ten daily Finnair flights from Helsinki to Oulu. Starting in late March, there will also be five direct flights per week from Riga.
Upon arrival at Oulu, you can reach the city center by taking bus lines 8 and 9, or take a taxi.
If you also want to explore the surrounding area and prefer being able to drive around, you can pick up your rental car right at the airport where you will find eight different rental car companies including Europcar, Avis, and Hertz.
By Train
Oulu is well integrated in the Finnish rail network, so traveler can easily get there by train. The train station is located in the heart of the city.
Direct trains frequently depart from Helsinki with the travel time ranging from 5:30 to 6:30 hours. There are several daily night train options.
By Bus
Alternatively, you can also travel to Oulu by bus. OnniBus and Flixbus have frequent departures from destinations all over Finland including Helsinki, Rovaniemi, and Tampere.
Where to Stay
Oulu offers an ideal accommodations for all types of travelers, and the most relevant question is whether one wishes to stay in the city center or by the sea in Nallikari.
Hotels like the Lapland Hotels Oulu and Sokos Hotel Arina invite travelers with cozy comfort right in the heart of the city, while Hotel Lasaretti on the nearby Lasaretinsaari Island entices with a combination of art and history.
Meanwhile, Nallikari Aalto Apartments right at Nallikari Beach offers spacious, modern apartments with a sea view.
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Will you be visiting Oulu in 2026?
Let me know in the comments!
This article clearly reflects the importance Oulu attaches to culture and the strong vision it presents as a city. The author’s approach is both informative and elegant, making the city’s cultural identity engaging and inspiring for the reader.
The efforts to bring people together through culture and art are truly commendable. Thanks to this article, Oulu has been added to the list of cities I would like to explore. Thank you for this insightful and enjoyable piece of writing.