Food culture is a central part of the European Capital of Culture year in Oulu2026. This summer and autumn, visitors can enjoy a wide range of local food events celebrating northern Finnish culinary traditions, local ingredients and community spirit. Events take place in Oulu and across Oulu2026 region so mark these to your calendar!
July Highlights
- In Kuhmo, the World Championship of Kainuu pastry crimping celebrates the traditional regional delicacy known as rönttönen.
See the event details: 4th July: Kuhmo World Championships of Rönttönen Crimping and a Celebration of Kuhmo Cuisine - Usually Finns celebrate Mother’s Day in May, but Alavieska hosts a special Mother’s Day-themed communal table event on 7th Juy. The event date us inspired by Finland’s first Mother’s Day celebration that took place 7th July 1918.
See the event details: 7th June Mother’s Day Dinner - Neljän Kylän Kattilat (The “Four Village Cauldrons”) event series in Siikalatva area showcases local food heritage, music, poetry, and performing arts across four villages.
See the event details: 1-31 July: Neljän Kylän Kattilat – Siikalatva Traditional Food Event - Tyrnävä offers harvest-themed gatherings, including communal dinners and celebrations of the new potato season.
See the event details: 8th July: Potato Gallery 2026: Summer Night’s Dinner Tyrnävä and 17-19 July: New Potato Party & BBQ Festival - In Pudasjärvi, pancake enthusiasts can enjoy a unique 24-hour pancake festival.
See the event details: 11-12 July: Thin pancake festival - Sotkamo presents a guided food walk exploring tar-flavoured foods and drinks while telling the story of the region’s historical tar industry.
See the event details: 25th Juiy: The Story of Tar – Scents and Flavors – Food Walk in Sotkamo
August Highlights
- “Meijän Maut” (“Our Taste”) in Oulu brings together chefs, producers, and food businesses from across the Oulu2026 region.
See the event details: 21st Aug: OUR TASTE – Food, chefs and gastronomy from the Oulu2026 region - The communal Summer Night’s Dinner 15th August in Oulu invites everyone to a one kilometre long dining table stretching through the city centre, offering local and international flavours.
See the dishes, programme and more: Summer Night’s Dinner 2026 | Arctic Food Lab | Oulu2026 - A similar long-table dining event takes place in Raahe, highlighting northern tastes and local food culture.
See the event details: 14th Aug: Raahe’s Long Table Dinner Event - On Pyhäjoki Arts Night, a long dinner table will be set in the center of Pyhäjoki, and everyone is invited to celebrate!
See the event details: 23 Aug: Shared Festive Table - Oulu Cocktail Week showcases local beverage and food culture through restaurant-hosted events and culminates in a competition to create Oulu’s new signature cocktail.
See the event details: 24-30 Aug: Oulu Cocktail Week 2026
September Highlights
- The Pöhönä event in charming Lumijoki focuses on coastal culture, fishing traditions, local food, storytelling, music, and crafts.
See the event details: 6th Sep: Pöhönä - The Finnish Artisan Food Championships in Oulu bring together food artisans and enthusiasts of locally produced, high-quality food.
See the event details: 17-20 Sep: Artisan Food Championship 2026 - The Likis local food event in Oulu offers opportunities to purchase local food and handicrafts while meeting local producers.
See the event details: 19-20 Sep: Likis local food event – 10 years of flavors, encounters and local food - Arctic Tasting invites restaurants and cafés in Oulu city center to compete for the most delicious dish, with customers voting for their favourites and discovering flavours rooted in the Arctic region. See the event details: 23-26 Sep: Arctic Tasting
