During the Oulu2026 Opening Festival weekend, the newly renovated Central Library Saari and the Children’s Cultural Centre Kotilo will be celebrating all weekend long with events and activities for everyone.
An open community opening ceremony with speeches and coffee will be held on Saturday, featuring greetings from the Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie, messages from architects and facility services, and a musical performance by the music class from Teuvo Pakkala School.
Be sure to explore the first exhibitions opening at Kotilo. In the Ystävän talo (Friend’s House) exhibition, local children’s stories, experiences, and dreams take you on a journey through our vibrant city. Joel Karppanen’s interactive media artwork invites children into the layers of generations in Oulu, creating a space for friendship and empathy. Visitors can leave their own messages of friendship with images, sounds, or stories. Kotikulmilla showcases charming illustrations by Johanna Ilander from The Book of Oulu, with artist talks about the exhibitions happening on Friday and Saturday
The Book of Oulu, created by more than 200 local children and artists, will have its official launch party complete with celebration. This delightful book, made for both kids and adults, tells what Oulu is like from children’s perspectives — and what it would be like if they got to decide.
Few tips for the weekend:
- Theatre by the Oulu Art School group Näytelmätykit, presenting scenes about friendship.
- Beatbox rhythms from Rytmikone Kasper and fun activities in the art disco.
- A children’s music concert by Pentti Punkki’s Syntymäpäivät band that will delight the little ones and entertain adults too.
- Tours of the renovated building’s spaces.
- An Open Mic poetry & performance stage where everyone is welcome to share their own texts — regardless of genre or experience.
Author and journalist Jenni Räinä, winner of the Tieto-Finlandia award for her nonfiction Reunalla – Stories from Finland’s Dwindling Villages will lead a book club discussion on literature connected to themes of the cultural capital year. The Open Mic event and Räinä’s book club are part of the City of Oulu’s Reading City campaign, aiming to make Oulu Europe’s most reading city in 2026.
On Sunday, the Winter Colours event, organized by Villa Victor and various language and cultural communities, brings creative workshops to both Central Library Saari and Children’s Cultural Centre Kotilo
The Oulu2026 Opening Festival takes place 16–18 January 2026 at over 20 locations in Oulu city centre. Program details are subject to change, so be sure to check the full schedule here
