Oulu2026 in Early Childhood Education and Schools

The unique Oulu2026 Opening Festival will be celebrated in Oulu from 16 to 18 January 2026. We invite everyone to enjoy this winter city festival. There will be many free events in the city centre, catering to diverse audiences and participants. We aim to make the events as accessible as possible.

On Friday, 16 January, the opening celebrations will also take place in early childhood education and schools. Groups can plan and carry out the opening celebrations in their own style!

Suggestions for the content of your own Opening Festival:   

• Watch the New Year’s Oulu2026 Show together on Yle Areena.
• Take part in the opening of the Children’s Culture Centre Kotilo via livestream.
• Enjoy Europe’s Best Vegetarian Food in schools in Oulu on Friday, 16 January 2026. Make your mealtimes festive!
• Showcase the skills of children and young people through hobby trials, art exhibitions, or a talent show.
• Explore the different languages and cultures of Europe.
• Discuss together on “What is culture and what does it mean to me” using a mind map or drawings.
• Connect with other groups, daycares, schools, upper secondary institutions, youth services, and care homes in the area and celebrate together!
• Explore the weekend programme together (the detailed schedule will be published here in November 2025). Children and young people can encourage their guardians to join the activities.

1. Create prototypes of the Peace Machine

The Peace Machine prototype is a creative task and thought experiment that allows children and young people to design their own version of a peace machine. The task can be introduced in any way you like (e.g. using the questions from section two), or the theme can also unfold naturally through the activity itself and the discussions it inspires.

There are many ways to create prototypes together with children and young people. Adapt the instructions to suit your group. With older pupils and students, the prototype idea can be developed further by reflecting on, or even making use of, the potential of artificial intelligence. 

• The Peace Machine can be drawn or assembled by gluing clippings from magazines, coloured paper, or fabric onto paper. You can write on the image or on the back of it to explain how the machine works.

• Use your imagination – the machine can have secret superpowers that no one else has ever heard of.   

• The Peace Machine can be big or small, and it can be made from a variety of materials.  

• What kinds of sounds does the machine make?

• How does your Peace Machine help to resolve conflicts?  

• What kind of fuel does the Peace Machine need? 

• What kind of information could artificial intelligence use in the Peace Machine?

Lue lisää:

Lasten Rauhankoneet käyvät muovijätteellä ja ratkovat riitoja – Oulu2026 (11.4.2022)

2. Explore Peace

Discuss the concept of peace as a group. These questions are also well suited for younger children to introduce the theme of peace or to support the Peace Machine prototype activity.

• What does the word “peace” mean to you?

• In what situations do you feel peaceful?

• Why is peace important in the world?

• How can people promote peace in their daily lives?

• What does a peaceful place look or sound like?

OR

Divide into pairs or small groups. Discuss one or more of the quotes listed below. You can also find additional quotes yourselves or create your own thoughts about peace at the end.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.

“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”
– Mahatma Gandhi 

“Peace begins with a smile.” 
– Mother Teresa 

“If you want peace, you don’t talk to your friends, you talk to your enemies.”
– Desmond Tutu 

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” 
– Albert Einstein 

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt 

“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”
– UNESCO constitution

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” 
– Siddhartha Gautama

3. Layers in the Peace Machine exhibition and learning materials

At Oulu City Hall, the art piece Layers in the Peace Machine will be on display for a year, combining art and technology into an aesthetic experience. The work is created by Ekho Collective and interacts with its audience using artificial intelligence. Pupils and students can engage with the piece in advance by having discussions about peace with the AI.  

Visiting the artwork at Oulu City Hall is free of charge, but groups must book their visit in advance through the online store on the oulu2026.eu website from autumn 2025 onwards. The visit is recommended for 6th graders as part of their Pupil’s Culture Path visit to the Oulu Art Museum. The artwork is best suited for pupils in grades 5–6, secondary school students, and those in upper secondary education.

Information about the exhibition opening hours, ticket reservations, and dates will be published in autumn 2025.

Ekho Collective’s materials for 5th and 6th graders: https://www.ekho.fi/schools

1. Introduction

2. Engagement with the artwork

3. Reflection

The materials can also be used for different age groups.

1. Art and culture

Cultural play

For: For everyone. Performed by secondary school students, teachers, and theatre professionals.
Description: A theatre performance about different cultures and cultural encounters.

Explore art

For: Pupils
Description: Art workshops where participants try out different art forms, such as spray painting, creating street chalk mandalas, pencil drawing, and photography.
Time: Late spring or early autumn during the school day in 2026
Location: The school and its grounds

Spring art exhibition

For: Families
Description: Art exhibition and craft workshops.
Time: Spring 2026
Location: School yard

Activity points, art exhibition, and a school fair

For: Primary school pupils and their families
Description: Wheel of fortune, face painting, haunted trail, rolling game, raffle, and bingo. Art exhibition 2026. A fair selling baked goods made by pupils and their parents.
Ajankohta: Spring 2026
Paikka: School

Cultural quiz and school cultural event

For: Pupils and families
Description: A quiz on culture-related questions, an art exhibition, and sales of sausages and sweets.
Ajankohta: Undefined

2. Outside the classroom

Voices

For: For all age groups, especially schoolchildren and the elderly
Description: Stories and poems written by people will be transformed into artworks created by pupils, which will be displayed alongside the original story or poem in Ainola Park. After the event ends in autumn, the authors of the stories can collect their artworks. If the authors are unable or do not wish to collect their pieces, the artworks will be returned to the school for the creators. 
Ajankohta: Spring-Summer 2026. 

Snow exhibition 

For: Community
Description: Artworks made of snow by primary school pupils. Visitors can add their own creations to the exhibition. Gingerbread cookies baked by the pupils and juice will be served at the event.
Ajankohta: Winter 2026
Paikka: Outdoor area with plenty of snow.

Winter nature trail

For: For everyone, organised by primary school pupils
Description: An accessible path made of coloured ice lanterns. At certain times, gingerbread cookies and hot juice (glögi) will be sold.
Ajankohta: Winter 2026
Paikka: Forest trails or other suitable outdoor areas

Winter skating

For: Secondary school pupils
Description: Christmas carols, ice skating, warm juice and gingerbread cookies, as well as friendly competitions between teachers and pupils. The event ends with a Finnish group dance Letkajenkka.
Ajankohta: December 2026
Paikka: On artificial ice or, if the weather is bad, inside the Jäähalli arena.

Film event or festival

For: For all ages, especially families with children and young adults
Description: Short films, film introductions, and showcasing local productions.
Ajankohta: Late spring 2026
Paikka: Ainola Park Summer Theatre

3. Food culture

Oulu cooking tournament

For: Mixed groups of over 12 years
Description: Adults and young people cook soups as the theme. The dishes are presented, smelled, tasted, and evaluated.
Ajankohta: Summer 2026
Paikka: School

Cultures on a plate / Let’s eat and celebrate 

For: For pupils and their families, for example organised by 9th graders
Description: Foods from different cultures are prepared and tasted together. Family recipes or recipes and flavours from one’s own culture are shared.
Ajankohta: Any season, during the weekend
Paikka: Home economics classrooms or another suitable space

Rye bread baking event

For: For pupils and their grandparents
Description: Rye bread baking, including experimenting with new flavour combinations (e.g. strawberry rye bread).
Ajankohta: Spring 2026
Paikka: School

Piparia Paperia Winter Event

Description: In the morning, sledging for primary school pupils and gingerbread house baking for secondary school students. In the afternoon, workshops for making Christmas cards and paper snowflakes.
Ajankohta: November-December 2026

4. Hobbies

Hobbies for young people

For: 1st to 6th graders, organised by secondary school students
Description: Stations showcasing hobbies through videos, photos, and brochures.
Ajankohta: Early autumn 2026. 
Paikka: School sports hall

Bouncy vibes 

For: Everyone
Description: Hobby presentation stations at Ouluhalli and the baseball stadium, with opportunities to try out new sports.
Ajankohta: Weekend 2026. On Friday, teachers will take classes on visits. Open to everyone on Saturday and Sunday.

Sports day 

For: Everyone
Description: Penalty shots in floorball, free throws in basketball, orienteering, and a kids vs. adults football match.
Ajankohta ja paikka: Undefined

Pupils’ tips for event planning

Accessibility 

Paths, such as the winter nature trail, are designed to be accessible. 
Event venues are chosen to be easily accessible for families and different groups. 

Communications and marketing 

The main channels are Wilma, Instagram, posters, and local notice boards.
Students can design visual materials and participate in communications.

Fundraising

School fairs and kiosks alongside the events.
The funds can be used, for example, for class trips. 

Planning and implementation 

Students’ responsibility in organizing events is increased. 
The sourcing of materials and safety are carefully considered.
Collaboration with local businesses can help reduce costs.