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Cool contrasts

Oulu2026 valo ja hahmo

Oulu is the kingdom of great contrasts – positive, but also challenging. Contrasts such as the nightless nights of the midnight sun and sunless days in the heart of winter. Contrasts have the power both to connect and disconnect, but also to create something new.

Cool Contrasts is about rebalancing our communities. There is already a recognised European need to use culture as a means to help reduce health inequalities. Oulu2026 will work with our citizens and with European partners to develop cultural practices that promote positive engagement to re-balance these inequalities. People are literally dying of loneliness in parts of Europe, both in big cities and in struggling rural hinterlands.

Oulu2026 wants to help Europe to reconnect with itself, promoting community life and face-to-face connection and exploring mental wellbeing  through sensitive and thoughtful projects.

How do we learn to better understand each other? What new and surprising connections can we create and nourish? We can listen, appreciate, be curious, supportive and interested in each other. Let’s celebrate our differences in the city of contrasts!

Programme Lines

Each of the three programme themes include programme lines which enable us to group connected projects together to maximise synergy and impact.

Art <3 Tech

Every day, nearly three billion people use mobile technology developed in Oulu. The city has long been a pioneer in technology research, product development and start-ups – and now it wants to take over Art&Tech. The models used to produce the culture of the future will increasingly utilise a hybrid strategy, a combination of virtual and physical experiences.

Dark Matters

No one has such an intimate relationship with light as us northerners. Acknowledging the dark and harvesting the light for health
and well-being.

Oulu Calling!

Celebrating the city’s resilience and power of reinvention as an inspiration for the future. We want to explore our local identities through outsiders’ eyes, and be surprised by what we discover about ourselves.

Latest

In which district of Oulu will the next mural be placed?

In which district of Oulu will the next mural be placed?

Upeart, a Finnish public art professional, is involved in our cultural program with the “Joy from Urban contemporary art” -project, which produces mural artworks around the Oulu area. The locations for the murals are chosen by the residents of Oulu in annual votes,...

Call for Young Volunteers to Tartu in the beginning of 2024

Call for Young Volunteers to Tartu in the beginning of 2024

Tartu, one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2024, is looking for three young people aged 18–30 from the Oulu2026 region to volunteer between January 25 and February 13, 2024. The selected young people get to create a unique youth celebration on International...

Glowember – Lottery Participation Rules

Glowember – Lottery Participation Rules

Organizer Oulun kulttuurisäätiö sr Y-tunnus 3246820-6 Torikatu 18 1 krs., 90100 Oulu oulu2026@ouka.fi Lottery You can participate in the lottery from November 1, 2023, to November 30, 2023. The lottery will be drawn every Monday among those who have participated in...

Introducing Glowember

Introducing Glowember

Glowember is coordinated by the Oulu Culture Foundation. The Glowember events are organized by various entities, including municipalities and associations. Some of the events are already well known, while others are being organized for the first time. The whole spectacle takes place over a broader area, as part of the journey toward the Cultural Capital Year in 2026.

Tales of Tar introduces historic Oulu

Tales of Tar introduces historic Oulu

The Tales of Tar route that can be experienced digitally on mobile devices around Oulu will open in November. The cultural history route consists of 10 fascinating short stories written by author Katariina Vuori. The stories are based on authentic locations, events...

Oulu2026 Stage opens Qstock on Thursday – Free entry!

Oulu2026 Stage opens Qstock on Thursday – Free entry!

On the upcoming weekend, Qstock, celebrating its 20th anniversary, invites the audience to festival vibes starting from Thursday, when the Oulu2026 stage kicks off its program. The area on Linnansaari island is free of charge, and there will be concerts on Friday and...

This year’s mural will be located in Tuira

This year’s mural will be located in Tuira

The residents of Oulu have voted for Tuira as the location for the Oulu2026 mural. The artist selection and the exact location of the artwork will be announced in August. The public vote for this year's Oulu2026 mural has concluded. A total of 1521 votes were cast,...