August is full of festivals, theatre, music and more

10.8.2026

The end of summer is full of events to experience in Oulu and the surounding region. See some of the highlights for August in Oulu!

Displaced: Karelia Unlimited 6-29 August

The exhibition Displaced – Karelia Unlimited at Pikigalleria explores Karelian aesthetics. The exhibition presents a texture-rich, vibrant, and surprising vision of Karelia—not as a static relic, but as something layered, fluid, and constantly evolving.

Displaced – Karelia Unlimited Exhibition

100% Oulu, 14–22 August

This August, one hundred ordinary people from Oulu will take to the stage at Oulu Theatre in the documentary theatre production 100% Oulu.

The production is based on a successful concept by Berlin-based theatre collective Rimini Protokoll, which has been presented in more than 45 cities around the world, including Tokyo and Berlin. The Oulu production premieres on Friday, 14 August, marking the concept’s Finnish premiere.

Marakni Roma Culture Festival, 14–16 August

In August, Marakni presents contemporary Roma artists from Finland and around the world. The concert series at Valve Hall features three evenings of outstanding performers of traditional Finnish Roma music as well as contemporary international Roma music.

The line-up includes Professor of Art Hilja Grönfors and Finnish rock legend Remu Aaltonen(The Hurriganes), among others.

Visit the Bonavista sailing ship, 14–27 August

The sailing ship Bonavista, owned by the National Museum of Denmark, arrives at the port of Toppilansalmi in Oulu.

The two-masted schooner was built in 1914 and originally sailed to Newfoundland, Canada, to collect dried cod (klippfisk) destined for Catholic countries around the Mediterranean. Later, the ship sailed the North Sea and Baltic Sea carrying regular cargo.

Visitors can step aboard Bonavista and learn more about traditional seafaring and sailing ships.

I love 8-bit® exhibition, 22–29 August

Remember Commodore, Spectrum and perhaps Amiga? But what about the grey Atari and Amstrad computers? If not, no worries! They will all come flooding back when the popular I love 8-bit® exhibition arrives in Oulu for a limited time.

The exhibition at Oulu’s Main Library Saaris takes visitors deep into 1980s computer culture and offers a cross-generational opportunity to explore some of the era’s most iconic games, as well as their artistic, cultural and technological dimensions.

Oulu Music Video Festival, 27–30 August

The fish are back! The world’s oldest music video festival, OMVF, returns for its 33rd edition and launches a new European Music Video Competition this year.

Alongside the European competition, the festival will once again feature the traditional Finnish music video competition. The programme also includes music-themed films, an art exhibition, a professional programme and audiovisual after-parties.

The festival programme has been curated by Artistic Director Joel Karppanen.

Air Guitar World Championships 2026, Oulu, 27–29 August

Make air, not war!

The Air Guitar World Championships are one of the highlights of the summer and form part of Oulu August Festival’s Delta Life weekend.

The three-day competition brings the world’s best air guitarists together to battle for the title of the world’s best air guitarist. National Air Guitar Champions from around the world, together with competitors who have advanced through the Dark Horses qualification, will challenge the reigning world champion, Oulu’s own Aapo “The Angus” Rautio.

Admission is free.

Delta Life, 27–29 August

August culminates in a carnival-like celebration as the spectacular Delta Life event takes over the Oulu river delta with the power of art and music.

The stage is a unique floating venue built on the water, featuring top performers ranging from musicians and dancers to circus artists.

The line-up includes Marzi Nyman, string quartet Meta4, Oulu All Star Big Band led by Jukka Eskola, men’s choir Huutajat, circus artists from Lumo Company and a dance group of more than ten performers.

The story of the event weaves together tales and visions of the future connected to the region’s waterways and European water routes, with the ultimate goal of promoting world peace.