The Ärjä Art Festival 24.-26.7. will feature a diverse range of local and international programmes, from the Steamboat Theatre to contemporary dance and from folk music to ecosomatic workshops. The theme of the festival is “Light and Resistance”.
The Ärjä Art Festival offers performing arts and ecological themes in the magnificent natural landscapes of Ärjänsaari. The open lake Oulujärvi, the island’s sandy beaches and sandy cliffs serve as a stage where we can get together. An ecological approach has been taken into account both in the arrangements of the festival and in the content of the program. The festival will be carried out entirely outdoors, on the terms of the Ärjänsaari Nature Reserve. All programs are free of charge. In the festival program, you can experience the Oulujärvi Steamboat Theater, participate in reading drama, dance to folk music, learn circus or tree rope climbing, steam in a tent sauna and delve into ecosomatic work together with international and local artists.
Ecosomatics is a bodily approach in which the human body is seen as part of a broader interaction between species. The worsening ecological crisis challenges us to relearn interspecies empathy, defending the Earth and facing the disappearing. The programme in Ärjä Island gently invites you to participate and explore together.
Arriving at the island
We recommend travelling by train to Kajaani. A festival bus has been arranged from Kajaani railway station to Ruunaniemi harbour, from where there is a boat transport to Ärjänsaari. With the festival bus, you can travel to the island for the weekend (Fri-Sun/Fri-Sat) or on a day trip on Saturday. The Steamship Kouta will also cruise to Ärjänsaari on Saturday. All schedules and more detailed travel instructions, as well as transportation prices can be found on the festival’s website.
Ärjä art festival – Ecological themes and performing arts in Ärjänsaari, Oulujärvi 24-26.7.2026
