President Tarja Halonen’s decision to become patron of the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 project gives the photography initiative strong moral authority and international visibility as part of Oulu European Capital of Culture 2026.
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 has received wonderful news for the coming year: President Tarja Halonen has accepted the invitation to act as patron of our project in 2026. This is a great honour for us and at the same time a confirmation of why the project matters – it addresses the very themes that President Halonen has spoken about throughout her career: equality, respect between people, and the right of everyone to be seen.
“Wonderful that Oulu has been given this hardworking but important task. And no second-guessing – instead we move forward with positive courage and confidence: this is how things are done in the north.”
Tarja Halonen’s long career in defending human rights, equality, and social justice makes her an exceptionally strong supporter of the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 project. Her work has been both practical and impactful.
Halonen is known for speaking out for diversity and minorities from the very beginning of her career. Before her presidency she served as chair of Seta and took a visible role in discussions on women’s rights, the position of LGBTQ+ communities, and the social impacts of globalisation.
On Halonen’s initiative, the European Roma Forum was established through a decision of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers – an important milestone in the development of Roma rights and European minority policy.
This is precisely why President Halonen’s patronage fits the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 project so perfectly. The project brings forward stories that are often left in the shadows: small moments, experiences of loneliness, life stories of minorities, and the smiles that appear when a person is seen exactly as they are. President Halonen’s support strengthens the idea that even small acts and images can have great meaning. Society changes when people pause for a moment to look at one another – and smile back.
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 is above all a project about people. It was born from the desire to document smiles, encounters, and small everyday moments that are easily lost in the rush of life. At the same time, we want to highlight stories and experiences that are rarely seen – loneliness, quiet emotions, and people living on the margins, each of whom nevertheless has a valuable story to tell.
The power of photography lies in its ability to make us pause and give both the viewer and the creator space to reflect. An image creates an opportunity to understand another person a little more deeply. That is why the project is part of the official Oulu European Capital of Culture 2026 programme: it builds bridges between people in a way that is both simple and meaningful.
Throughout the year we will organise competitions, workshops, exhibitions, and community projects. Anyone can take part – with a camera, a phone, or simply an open mind. Some of the images will travel to Finland, some will remain in Riogordo, and every story will continue its journey in one way or another. The aim is to encourage people to look at both themselves and others more gently.
We also work together with organisations dedicated to equality, such as Villa Victor’s multicultural office, Oulu Pride, Satu Saarinen, the Dean of Oulu Cathedral Parish, and Rainbow Families Oulu. SOL is also involved. The shared goal is to build a city and cultural field in which everyone can feel that they belong in their own way. This is why photography plays such an important role: it can spark conversation, create space for encounters, and bring forward stories that might otherwise go unnoticed.
President Halonen’s patronage gives 2026 a strong and inspiring starting point. The project continues its preparations through photography competitions, workshops, exhibitions, and diverse partnerships, bringing forward smiles and human stories that deserve to be seen – in Oulu, in Riogordo, and more widely across Europe.
