Brave Hinterland
You need to be brave to live here. Brave too to pack up and leave, starting a new life elsewhere. But even braver to stay and try to change things.
Far away from everything, on the periphery of Europe we face an uncompromising nature, extreme climate (change), enormous distances and wild vastness, excessive light and excessive darkness. Only a few in Europe are willing to live with extreme hardship and extreme beauty.
Yet Europe is much more than just its geographical core. We want Europe to get excited by its edges in 2026!
Finally, actual Climate Change impacts us more visibly here than almost anywhere else in Europe with biodiversity already significantly diminished. The global response to climate change has so far been too timid. We explore this topic in our theme Brave Hinterland.
Programme Lines
Each of the three programme themes include programme lines which enable us to group connected projects together to maximise synergy and impact.
Between East and West
Oulu exploring its roots and the routes linking it to Europe. These routes shaped the identity, cultural and societal development of the city and deserve exploring.
Naturally Art
Pulsing forces of the North – Nature and Art. With the growing focus on climate change, we cannot ignore or deny nature’s forces – whether you live in Oulu region or on the southernmost shores of Europe. We wish to showcase our region’s traditional engagement with nature reminding us how it enriches our lives, sharing
its vibrant inspiration with a broader Europe.
Northern Vibes
We do things differently here. We sit in hot saunas and then dive into frozen waters. We cycle on our bikes in minus 25-degrees Celsius. It’s an everyday experience for us, but a surprise to most of the rest of the world. Having fun in the snow hides a deeper message about the sensitivity and disappearance of our traditional habitat. Join us on a journey through our unique way of living and learn to appreciate winter’s natural wonders!
Latest
Sauna is now hot!
Sauna culture is a part of the Oulu2026 cultural programme and we took part in a sauna discussion event in Tartu on May 10–11. The aim is to set a world record for sauna bathing at the beginning of June. Sauna culture is now in high demand both here in Finland and...
Open call: Climbing over Oulu – Revisiting the landscapes of the hidden city
Le Plus Petit Cirque du Monde from France, partnering with Flow Productions from Oulu, will begin implementing their project that was selected as part of the European Capital of Culture programme this June in Oulu. The ensemble will include participatory urban walks...
Join the Wild Herb Celebration on 8th of June!
Wild Herb Celebration on Saturday, June 8, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is an event for the whole family at Åström park in Oulu (Isokatu 1), where the possibilities of the nature are presented extensively: nature's wild products, food, cosmetics and experiences!...
TOP3 tips for current European Capitals of Culture
We asked this year's teams of European Capitals of Culture for highlights for the coming summer. This is how we were answered from Norway, Estonia, and Austria. Bodø, Norway, TOP3 Midsummer Mystery, Breivika Beach 22.6. Bodø2024's big summer opening event will be a...
Qstock acts for Oulu2026 Stage announced
All the acts for the Oulu2026 Stage showcasing artists from the Oulu region have now been selected. As many as 164 applications were submitted in the open application process, and 8 acts were selected to play at the festival. The audience can enjoy the versatile...
The Sound of the North route takes you through the different eras of popular music in Oulu
“The Sound of the North – tracing the origins of popular music” is a digital story route that can be experienced throughout Oulu using your own mobile device. The permanent route, which will be published on 10 April, is part of the Oulu region’s journey towards...
Open Call for the ARToulu art area
The European Capital of Culture 2026 brings us Oulu’s new ARToulu art area, where art will pop up and surprise you in unexpected places. Dozens of installed artworks will change the face of the Oulujoki estuary’s seven city neighborhoods, turning them into interesting...
Baseline for the evaluation of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture is published
The Centre for Cultural Policy Research Cupore explores and evaluates the next Finnish European Capital of Culture – Oulu2026. The English version of the report describing the baseline of the assessment in 2022 has now published on Cupore's website. The report shows...
CULTUR€ – Matching with Busine$$
Do you know how culture and art can be used to produce and increase the value of companies? Cooperation with culture and creative industries creates new opportunities to develop your company’s business, products and services. It is also a good way to reach new...
The artist for the third Oulu2026 mural is being sought in a Europe-wide open call
Artists participating in the open call can send their portfolios from March 27 to April 17 of 2024 and the selected artist will receive an invitation to work in Oulu's Myllyoja next summer. Upeart is implementing a series of murals in the Oulu region as part of the...