Frequently Asked Questions

European Capital of Culture is a programme of the European Union (EU) aimed at promoting cultural diversity, increasing cultural exchange between European countries and highlighting the cultural heritage and creativity of each selected city. The Capital of Culture title is awarded annually to one or more cities, and the programme offers these cities the opportunity to organise extensive cultural events and develop their cultural activities internationally. 

The European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) are the most visible form of European Union cultural support. Capitals of Culture have been named since 1985 and are now funded through the Creative Europe programme. Since 2009, it has been decided to name two cities as European Capitals of Culture each year. From 2021, in addition to these two cities, one city from an EU candidate country will be selected every three years.

European Capitals of Culture plan and implement a diverse culture programme that can include exhibitions, concerts, festivals, workshops and other events. The programme covers local, regional and European culture and aims to attract interest from both the local population and international visitors.

The title European Capital of Culture can bring economic benefits to the city through the growth of tourism and increase the city’s visibility and reputation in Europe and the world. Previous European Capitals of Culture in Finland were Helsinki in 2000 and Turku in 2011. Oulu will be the European Capital of Culture in 2026.

In 2017, the City Council of Oulu decided to apply for Finland’s next European Capital of Culture title. Tampere and Savonlinna competed with us for the title. The winner is always selected by a European panel of experts. The winner was selected on the basis of the application, that is, the bid book, the visit of the international panel of experts and the presentation of the bid book.

The bid book had to provide answers to the questions asked as comprehensively as possible and present the culture programme. There were two stages in the application process: preliminary selection and the actual application. The candidate cities submitted a preliminary application to the panel for evaluation, after which the panel selected the cities that would continue in the competition and proceed to the second phase. All three Finnish competitors were able to continue. The continuing cities had approximately 8 months to improve their applications, after which the panel reviewed the new, official bid books and visited the cities in person. In June 2021, Oulu was declared the winner of the competition. You can relive the competition on Yle’s news and video (in Finnish)

Oulu Culture Foundation coordinates the European Capital of Culture year 2026, founded in 2022. The Foundation is a subsidiary of the City of Oulu, meaning that it is close to city organisations. The Foundation’s employees and the city’s employees cooperate closely in many different areas, from communications to events. The Foundation does not finance infrastructure projects. The City of Oulu is responsible for construction investment plans and the renovation of the city’s premises.

The Foundation develops Oulu as a city of culture and events, promotes the operating conditions of artists and the cultural sector and participates in activities that develop the cultural sector nationally and internationally.

You can read more about the Foundation, administration and the Board from this page: Oulu Culture Foundation

The European Capital of Culture activities receive funding from several different sources, which vary according to the country and city of implementation. There are also differences in city-specific budgets.

The total funding for Oulu2026 is EUR 50 million. It is divided into the preparation and implementation years and consists of the following sources:

Ticket revenue and other event revenue: The events, exhibitions and festivals organised during the Capital of Culture year can generate ticket revenue, sales and other revenue, which in turn cover the costs of operations.

City of Oulu: The City of Oulu has reserved EUR 20 million to finance the activities. This funding is distributed over 2021–2027.

National support: The Ministry of Education and Culture has granted (Government Decision of 27 February 2022) EUR 20 million in funding for the activities of the European Capital of Culture. 

European Union funding: The EU awards the “Melina Mercouri” prize to Capitals of Culture. The prize is awarded on the condition that the commitments and goals agreed to in advance have been met. The prize amounts to EUR 1.5 million.

Private sector: Companies, sponsors and other private operators may offer financial support, services or materials in exchange for visibility and cooperation opportunities. Private funding can come in the form of sponsorship agreements, partnerships or donations, for example.

The programme of the European Capitals of Culture is commonly referred to as the culture programme. The Oulu2026 culture programme is created and carried out by hundreds of creators from Oulu, Finland and Europe. The programme consists of the plans that have been included since Oulu’s application phase and the events and other programmes that have been selected through the open call. The participation of an extensive partner network in the preparation and implementation of the culture programme ensures that new competence becomes rooted in the Oulu2026 area, so that the good operating models created during the process will continue after 2026.

The culture programme can include, for example, exhibitions, events, sports competitions, street parties or an art path. You can learn more about the culture programme on the Oulu2026 website. In 2026, an event calendar and route map service will be provided for visitors. Some of the culture programme will be carried out in different parts of Europe with local partners, but the majority will take place in the Oulu2026 area. Some of the culture programme can be experienced partly or entirely digitally on a computer or phone.

The values of the Oulu2026 culture programme

Inspiring: Our culture programme is inspiring and unique. Culture will also be taken to new places and audiences through experiences created in unique places. The participants experience the events, but also create them. Together, we are building cultural climate change.

Sustainable: We are committed to building an ecologically, socially, culturally and economically sustainable culture programme. We support responsible culture production and develop our operations in accordance with the UN’s Global Agenda for Sustainable Development.

European: European Capitals of Culture aim to highlight the richness and diversity of European cultures and to increase the feeling of togetherness among European citizens. One of the main goals of the European Union is to promote peace, and these goals are even more important in times of severe crisis.

Everyone benefits from the Capital of Culture year! The most important thing is cultural climate change, which we hope will be reflected in all of us in our own activities. Cultural climate change means the desire to connect people – to incorporate fun and joyful experiences into everyday life but also to broaden our ways of thinking, understanding and listening to each other. Participation feels good and promotes well-being – this is what we wish for everyone.

The influx of tourists and the revitalisation of urban life bring benefits to various operators, such as hotels, restaurants and operators in the tourism sector. Everyone can fly the flag as much as they want for the European Capital of Culture!

…and the rest of 34 more municipalities alongside Oulu!

The European Capitals of Culture programme is typically implemented in more extensive areas than in one city, and so also in 2026: There are activities in a total of 40 municipalities in northern Finland! Some municipalities also work together on their programme.

We invite the entire Oulu2026 region to create an experience where both local residents and operators as well as domestic and international guests can take part in something bigger. We are proud to present travellers with Finland in miniature. Cultural climate change starts in the north!

The goal of Oulu2026 is cultural climate change. Cultural climate change means a permanently richer cultural life. In 2026, we invite you to enjoy world-class cultural experiences, from near and far. Cultural climate change means the desire to connect people – to incorporate fun and joyful experiences into everyday life but also to broaden our ways of thinking, understanding and listening to each other. Cultural climate change fuels creativity and new development. The sparks that create ideas that change the future.

In 2026, Europe will get excited about its farthest reaches when Oulu is named European Capital of Culture. Oulu is and will always be a technology city. In the future, we also want to be a bold cultural city, as we believe that culture plays a significant role in creating hope and success.