Hymyilevä Oulu 26 and Oulu Pride ry work together to bring photography, art and human rights together. The collaboration highlights diversity, the power of smiles and stories that help build a more open and inclusive city.
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 and Oulu Pride ry work together to bring the power of art and photography together with the message of the pride movement, diversity and the importance of human rights. Together they create a space where people can meet through smiles and stories – in a warm and open atmosphere where everyone is welcome.
Photography can be used to tell stories of minorities in a vivid and meaningful way. An image captures a moment that often says more than words. In the Hymyilevä Oulu 26 photo competition, we will see a wide range of people from different backgrounds – images that open new perspectives and make visible what might otherwise remain unseen. Cooperation with Oulu Pride ry helps ensure that stories of diversity are shared openly and with impact.
Oulu Pride ry is an association founded in 2018 that organises the annual Oulu Pride week and maintains year-round activities. Its mission is to promote the realisation of human rights and to build a shared Oulu where everyone has the space to be themselves.
The association is supported by approachable and enthusiastic people who make events welcoming and inclusive, ensuring that everyone finds their place – whether joining for the first time or returning again.
Oulu Pride ry is also a member organisation of Seta and a partner of Oulu Seta. Through its work, the association promotes equality, equal rights and human rights.
Pride refers to pride in one’s own identity and the right to be oneself. It is an international human rights movement that defends the rights of sexual and gender minorities and works towards an open and safe society.
In Oulu, pride culture has gained a strong presence. The annual Oulu Pride week brings together thousands of participants and numerous partners, creating a warm and communal atmosphere through parades, celebrations, discussions, art and music.
At the same time, the work of Oulu Pride ry goes far beyond a single week each year. The association organises events, workshops and discussions throughout the year, keeping diversity, equality and human rights visible in everyday life.
Hymyilevä Oulu 26 brings photography alongside this work – a medium that can say more than a thousand words. Through the competition, anyone can participate and share their own perspective through an image. This creates a shared collection of stories in which every smile matters.
In 2026, Oulu Pride and Hymyilevä Oulu 26 move forward side by side, showing that a city is at its strongest when its diversity can be expressed through art, joy and collaboration.
