President Tarja Halonen will take part in the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 Celebration Gala in Oulu on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. As patron of the project, President Halonen will deliver the keynote speech. The evening’s star performer will be Saara Aalto.
Preparations for Hymyilevä Oulu 26 are progressing rapidly, and we are delighted to announce that the project’s patron, President Tarja Halonen, will attend the event and deliver the evening’s keynote speech.
President Halonen’s participation is a great honour for us. Her long-standing work as an advocate for equality, human dignity and social inclusion is closely connected to the values of the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 project. The project builds connections between people and highlights the stories of minorities, people experiencing loneliness and ordinary people through photography.
We are also looking forward to welcoming internationally renowned singer, songwriter and pianist Saara Aalto to the event. Saara Aalto will be the evening’s star performer, bringing her unique energy and atmosphere to the programme.
The event will also feature a welcome address by Piia Rantala-Korhonen, CEO of the Oulu2026 Foundation, and greetings from Lauri Nikula, Chairman of the Oulu City Council. From Spain, participants will receive a video greeting from Antonio Alés Montesinos, Mayor of Riogordo. Music and performances will also be provided by Nova Ensemble, Sounds of Oulu and dancer Sachina Thapa.
The evening programme includes the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 Photography Competition Award Ceremony, a photography exhibition, and a panel discussion entitled The Power of Encounter – Minorities, Loneliness and Community. The discussion will explore how community spirit, inclusion and meaningful human encounters can be strengthened in modern society.
The panel participants are Pirjo Nikula, Director of Wellbeing Promotion from the City of Oulu, Satu Saarinen, Dean of Oulu Cathedral, Anna Litewka-Anttolainen from the Oulu2026 Foundation, Merja Peteri from Luovi Vocational College, and Kristian Kaarna from the Augmenters Cultural Association in Riogordo.
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 is a year-long international photography project taking place in Finland and Spain. The project includes a photography competition, courses, exhibitions and events that are open to everyone.
The free and open celebration gala will take place on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, at Pohjankartano in Oulu. The event serves as the project’s visible culmination before the exhibitions spread across different parts of Oulu throughout the summer and autumn. Everyone is warmly welcome exactly as they are. There is no dress code, so you are welcome to attend in casual, summer or formal attire.
The event also marks the project’s culmination before exhibitions continue across Oulu during the summer and autumn. Exhibitions will be presented at Oulu Cathedral, Valkea Shopping Centre, Valve Cultural Centre, Saari Central Library, Oulu City Theatre, Parish Hall and Oulu10. Photographs will also be displayed at Villa Victor events during the autumn.
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 is an official part of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture programme and one of its flagship projects. The project’s most important partner is Villa Victor. The event is organised by the Augmenters Cultural Association in cooperation with the Oulu2026 Foundation, the City of Oulu, SOL Companies and several other partners in Finland and Spain.
