There’s plenty to experience for all ages in the European Capital of Culture Oulu this October! The autumn holiday (syysloma) weeks offer events both indoors and outdoors. We’ve gathered some tips for things to see and do in Oulu from 12-23 October 2026, so mark these to your calendar!
Exhibitions to discover this Autumn
Danish artist Jakob Kudsk Steensen’s immersive media art exhibition The Kuutar Garden can be experienced in the underground Oulu Kivisydän car park 18 September-30 November. In this living virtual simulation, the past and future meet through plants, nature and knowledge collected by humans. Tickets are available on site or can be purchased in advance from Lippu.fi.
Fotografiska Tallinn X Oulu2026 PLAY exhibition is one of the highlights of Oulu’s European Capital of Culture year. Featuring 17 international artists, the group exhibition explores play as both a source of joy and a disruptive force. Through a multidisciplinary lens, it brings together moments of joy, resilience, rebellion and connection. Tickets are available at Pekuri or in advance from Lippu.fi.
For a sensory experience combining visual art, sound, interactivity and physicality, visit the entry-free exhibitions Media Art from Kiasma and the immersive Layers of the Peace Machine at Oulu City Hall. Make sure you reserve your visiting time in advance through the Oulu2026 online shop as the City Hall welcomes 15 visitors at a time, with entry every 20 minutes.
Immersive Faravid’s Land performance weaves together theatre, contemporary circus, and contemporary dance, and it takes place in Oulu’s legendary Raksila supermarket building. Performance language is Finnish, but taking part of the performance does not require understanding Finnish.
New museum Tiima opens in October
The new Tiima Museum and Science Centre opens on 9 October. At the same time, Tiima launches a range of new exhibitions, from the Northern Lights to heavy metal music.
In the Metallikausi (Metal era) exhibition, visitors can dive into the dark and cold undercurrents of heavy metal music. From the North, amid ice, darkness, solitude and melancholy, emerged a marginal phenomenon in the 1980s that went on to gain worldwide recognition – and continues to thrive today.
At Tiima, you can also experience the magic of northern nature in the Aurora Revelare exhibition. Visitors can witness the colours of the Northern Lights while enjoying the thrill of a snowmobile simulator beneath a glowing northern sky.
The On Animal trails exhibition offers an opportunity to discover the diverse nature of the Oulu region and its fascinating inhabitants – many of which are rarely seen in the wild. The exhibition features more than one hundred taxidermied animals, as well as skeletons, skulls and a wide selection of invertebrates, particularly insects.
Oulu2026 events for October
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Discover art and cultural trails
If you want to enjoy your holiday without a schedule, disover destinations in the Oulu2026 Cultural Atlas! The digital map brings together art trails, historical sites and fascinating story routes in Oulu and the region. The destinations can be visited at any time.
Climate Clock Artworks are created by world leading Finnish and international artists to permanent landmarks around Oulu. Each unique location offers a moment of reflection and hope for the future. Six permanent artworks can be found in Haukipudas, Kiiminki, central Oulu, Oulunsalo, Yli-Ii and Ylikiiminki.
The ARToulu art area invites you to experience the joy of discovery when searching for art or encountering it by chance. The works can be found in the Oulu city center, Pikisaari, Hietasaari, Toppilansaari, Toppilansalmi, Meri-Toppila and Tuira districts.
In the enchanting forest and river landscapes of Sanginsuu, Lapinkangas and Sanginjoki, you can encounter environmental and documentary artworks inspired by local stories, history and northern traditions.
