Icelandic artist Björk’s audiovisual exhibition will open alongside Fotografiska Tallinn’s PLAY exhibition at Kauppakortteli Pekuri on 13 November. Tickets go on sale on 19 October. Both exhibitions will be open until the end of Oulu’s year as European Capital of Culture 2026.
Björk brings audiovisual art to Oulu
Björk brings an audiovisual exhibition to Oulu, combining sound, moving images, music, visual art and technology. The exhibition features three audiovisual installations.
Ancestress and Sorrowful Soil are works composed and arranged by Björk as tributes to her mother. The third work, Björk Orkestral, is presented in an immersive listening room designed by Genelec.
The works were first shown at the National Gallery of Iceland in Reykjavík, where they were exhibited throughout summer 2026. In Oulu, the exhibition will run until the end of the year.
“Bringing Björk to Oulu has been a long-standing dream, as her art brings together many themes associated with the North. Presenting her work in an exhibition space created by Genelec is also a natural continuation of the dialogue between art, technology and sound,” says Henri Turunen, Programme Manager at Oulu2026.
Tickets on sale from 19 October
Björk’s exhibition will share the same venue as Fotografiska Tallinn’s PLAY exhibition, on the second floor of Pekuri Shopping Centre in central Oulu. One ticket gives access to both exhibitions.
Tickets are sold for specific entry times, but they will also be available at the door. Visitors are admitted every 30 minutes, so booking in advance is recommended to secure your preferred time.
Tickets and entry times can be booked from 10 am on 19 October through Lippu.fi and at the Oulu2026 Info & Shop in Pekuri during its opening hours.
For more information about tickets, see the Good to know about your visit section below.
There’s still time to experience the PLAY exhibition
Fotografiska Tallinn’s PLAY exhibition invites visitors to discover how play can inspire creativity and new ways of thinking, including in adulthood. PLAY has been part of the Oulu2026 cultural programme since January. The exhibition is currently open until 1 November. It will be closed from 2 to 12 November while the space is being prepared for Björk’s exhibition.
The group exhibition features more than 200 photographic prints and video artworks. PLAY explores play both as a source of joy and as a disruptive force, highlighting moments of delight, resilience, rebellion and connection. Together, the works of 16 artists form a visual journey into play as a deeply human form of expression and a wordless language.
The exhibition presents works by leading names in photography, spanning the 1950s to the present day and different stages of the artists’ careers. These include the late photography legend Martin Parr and The Last Resort (1983–1985), Jouko Lehtola and Nuoret sankarit (1996), Cristina de Middel and The Afronauts (2012), and Christopher Herwig and Soviet Bus Stops (2002–2015).
The other artists featured in the exhibition are Susan Meiselas, Bruce Davidson, Roger Ballen, Nina Katchadourian, Sage Sohier, Trent Parke, Karolina Wojtas, Niccolò Rastrelli, Joosep Kivimäe, Mathias Väärsi, Pelle Cass and Deanna Dikeman. The exhibition’s soundscape, which guides visitors through its different moods, was created by Erki Pärnoja.
Good to know about your visit
Where can I buy tickets and book an entry time?
Tickets are available through the Lippu.fi online ticket shop and at the Oulu2026 Info & Shop at the exhibition venue: Kauppakortteli Pekuri, second floor, in central Oulu.
How much do tickets cost?
Advance tickets: €17 / €12 + booking fees (from €1.50 + 0.65% of the order total via www.lippu.fi).
Discounted tickets: €12 for students, pensioners, unemployed people, S-Etukortti cardholders, OP owner-customers and Kaleva subscribers. Proof of eligibility for the discount must be presented on arrival.
Tickets at the door: €17 / €12.
Free admission for under-18s when accompanied by an adult.
Is my booked entry time also my arrival time?
Please arrive 5–10 minutes before the entry time shown on your ticket.
Can I buy tickets at the venue?
Yes. At the Oulu2026 Info & Shop (Kauppakortteli Pekuri, second floor), you can buy a ticket for the next available entry time or choose another available time.
Do I need two tickets to visit both exhibitions?
No. One ticket includes admission to both Björk’s exhibition and Fotografiska Tallinn’s PLAY exhibition.
Why do I need to book a specific entry time?
Music and sound play an important role in both exhibitions. The works run according to set schedules, and timed entry helps ensure that visitors can experience them in the best possible way.
What if I arrive late for my booked entry time?
You can visit the exhibitions at the next available entry time. New entry times begin every 30 minutes.
Can I change my entry time if my plans change?
If you are unable to attend at your booked time, please contact the Oulu2026 Info & Shop at info(at)oulu2026.eu or +358 40 355 6126. We will arrange a new entry time for you at no extra cost.
Can I buy an open ticket without a fixed entry time?
Open tickets are not available through the Lippu.fi online ticket shop. If you arrive at the venue without a booking, you can visit the exhibitions at the next available time, subject to availability. Entry times are on the hour and at half past the hour.
Are the Museum Card or Kaikukortti accepted?
The Museum Card is not accepted as a means of payment, as the exhibitions are not part of museum operations. Visitors can obtain a ticket at the venue using a Kaikukortti card. The card must be presented on arrival.
Is the EU Disability Card accepted?
The EU Disability Card with an A marking entitles the holder’s personal assistant to free admission.
The exhibition spaces at Pekuri have been designed and implemented by PAVE Arkkitehdit, Genelec, Saas Instruments and IP Heikkilä for Oulu2026.
