Planète Vapeur’s monumental 18-ton Pegasus makes its first appearance in Finland and the Nordic region as the grand finale of The Irish Festival of Oulu’s international celebration of music, mythology, storytelling and street performance.
Planète Vapeur’s monumental street spectacle Pegasus, The Song of the Stars will make its Finnish and Nordic premiere in Oulu on September 25–26, 2026 from 19:30-20:30 on Kirkkokatu street in the heart of the Oulu city centre. The illuminated 18-ton winged horse will serve as the grand finale on both days of Cultural Kaleidoscopes, a new, artistically curated two-day free street event in the heart of Oulu City Centre presented by The Irish Festival of Oulu.
Created by the French street arts company Planète Vapeur, Pegasus combines a monumental roaming Pegasus horse brought to life by 12 international artists performing live music, opera, aerial acrobatics, circus, stilt walking, fire performance and street theatre. The winged horse measures 11 metres long, seven metres high and three metres wide.
Video: Pegasus by Planète Vapeur
Inspired by mythology and the stars, the production roams through public space as a spectacle procession of light, music and performance. Pegasus has been presented internationally, including at Marseille-Provence 2013 European Capital of Culture and Galway International Arts Festival in Ireland in 2024.
The production has been described as “A magical parade full of light” in Aubegenville, France, and “It felt like a dream” at Galway International Arts Festival, Ireland.
The two-day Cultural Kaleidoscopes street festival brings a programme of multidisciplinary arts performances celebrating Celtic, Finnish and European cultural heritage, including music, dance, storytelling, folklore, circus, street theatre and spectacle performance, to the main streets of Oulu city centre in a fully pedestrianised, traffic-free area. The programme is designed to be inclusive and accessible to everyone.
Programme highlights include Clanadonia, the acclaimed Glasgow-based tribal pipes and drums group; Tuatha Dé Danann by Gráinne Holland and Band, combining Irish mythology, storytelling and music; The Belfast Wren Boys, whose performances draw on Ireland’s Wren Day tradition; and the award-winning Irish street theatre production Claudette by Alex Allison and Sara Martinez.
The wider programme also includes Irish and Finnish traditional music and dance, storytelling, children’s concerts, circus, fire performance and street theatre.
Festival Artistic Director and curator of Cultural Kaleidoscopes, Brent Cassidy, states:
“Cultural Kaleidoscopes began as a dream and grew into a bold cultural vision rooted in a simple belief: that culture belongs to everyone. By bringing music, storytelling, dance, street theatre and the grande spectacle of Pegasus into the heart of Oulu city centre, we hope to create shared experiences filled with imagination, colour, wonder and human connection. At its heart, the event is about transforming everyday spaces into places where lifelong memories can be made.”
The 19th edition of The Irish Festival of Oulu, the world’s northernmost Irish cultural festival, will take place from September 23–27, 2026. The festival is an official programme of Culture Ireland’s Global European Union Presidency Cultural Programme and the only event in Finland included in the programme. It is also an official programme partner of Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture.
Cultural Kaleidoscopes
September 25–26, 2026
Oulu city centre
The Irish Festival of Oulu
September 23–27, 2026
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Time: 19:30–20:30, Kirkkokatu
- Suitable for: All ages
- Admission: Free
- Sound & effects: The performance includes bright lights, drumming, opera singing, music and other theatrical effects, with periods of loud sound. Earplugs or other hearing protection are recommended for those sensitive to loud noises, and suitable hearing protection is recommended for small children.
- Pets: Bringing pets is not recommended.
- Route: Pegasus begins near the Kirkkokatu–Kajaaninkatu intersection and proceeds towards Oulu City Hall and Rotuaari before returning towards City Hall for the grand spectacle performance. It then returns to the top of Kirkkokatu.
FACT BOX
Pegasus, The Song of the Stars
- Created by French street arts company Planète Vapeur
- Finnish and Nordic premiere
- Grand finale of Cultural Kaleidoscopes on both days
- Illuminated 18-ton winged horse
- Dimensions: 11 m × 7 m × 3 m
- Performed by 12 international artists
- Combines live music, opera, aerial acrobatics, circus, stilt walking, fire performance and street theatre
- Previously presented internationally, including at Marseille-Provence 2013 European Capital of Culture and Galway International Arts Festival in 2024
The Irish Festival of Oulu
- September 23–27, 2026
- 19th edition
- Founded in 2006
- The world’s northernmost Irish cultural festival
- Official programme of Culture Ireland’s Global European Union Presidency Cultural Programme (Finland’s only event included in the programme)
- Official programme partner of Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture
- Cultural Kaleidoscopes: September 25–26, 2026 (Oulu city centre, Pedestrian Only, Free admission)
For more information:
The Irish Festival of Oulu
Brent Cassidy
Artistic Director / CEO
+358 50 380 1908
