Brands Like Bands, the world’s only festival of company-formed bands, launches its most global tour in 2026 across seven countries, ending in Oulu, Finland — the world’s happiest nation and European Capital of Culture.
It’s called Brands Like Bands, it was born in Portugal, and after 13 editions and appearances at festivals such as Rock in Rio, sharing the stage with artists like Muse, Duran Duran, and Post Malone, it is now preparing for its most international edition yet.
Between March and October 2026, the festival will travel across two continents, seven countries, and eight cities – including São Paulo, Porto, and the legendary Hard Rock Cafes in Lisbon, Florence, Barcelona, Berlin, and London, where artists such as Foster The People and Paul McCartney have performed. The journey will conclude in Oulu, as part of the European Capital of Culture 2026 celebrations.
Built on a simple idea — that over 90% of people who play music are not professional musicians — Brands Like Bands brings together bands formed within companies around the world, united by a shared passion for music and the thrill of performing live.
Throughout its history, the festival has supported several sustainability-focused initiatives, including Patagonia’s 1% for the Planet, as well as projects linked to global artists such as Green Day and Billie Eilish, both Grammy winners and prominent voices for environmental and social causes.
Choosing Oulu as the final stop of the international tour is no coincidence — it perfectly aligns with the project’s spirit. Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world for several consecutive years, and its cultural values of well-being, community, and balance resonate deeply with what Brands Like Bands represents: music made by real people who find on stage a space for freedom, expression, and shared joy. Ending the tour in Oulu means closing the year in the world’s happiest country, giving the festival a finale that celebrates not only music, but the human culture that inspires it.
