For three days in January, the city centre of Oulu will be transformed into a venue for a variety of events. Taking place on 16–18 January 2026, the Oulu2026 Opening Festival has something for all ages at more than 20 venues, with most events being free of charge and open to all.
With its diverse programme and wide range of presenters and performers, the opening festival offers a taste of what the Capital of Culture year has in store. From Friday to Sunday, there will be something for the whole family to enjoy. Almost all events at the festival are free of charge and open to all ages and everyone. Many also give the audience the chance to play an active role and experiment for yourself. Some of the events will be streamed live on the Oulu2026 YouTube channel, allowing you to watch them online.
“Oulu2026 has finally arrived! The opening festival has something uniquely wonderful and enjoyable for everyone. Now is the time to feel proud and invite all your friends, relatives, and acquaintances. These opening ceremonies will only happen once in your lifetime – and they are happening in Oulu, of course!”, says Piia Rantala-Korhonen, Managing Director of the Oulu Cultural Foundation, the organisation in charge of the Oulu2026 activities.
Almost 200 events, over 20 venues
With nearly 200 events spread over 20 venues in the city centre, the inaugural festival will have something for every taste. There will be events indoors and outdoors, in shopping centres, the town hall, squares, cafés and cultural spaces. The audience can choose from concerts, ice hockey, acrobatics, car tuning, panel discussions, pub quizzes, art exhibitions and stomping techno parties and more.
You can move between performances at your leisure, dropping in for just a moment or staying in one place for longer. It is worth checking the programme in advance and planning your itinerary around the events that interest you the most. Alternatively, you can have an impromptu adventure – during the opening festivities in the city centre, it will be impossible not to get caught up in the party spirit!
The programme of the Opening Festival is now available on the website https://oulu2026.eu/en/oulu2026-opening-festival/. Some of the highlights of the opening weekend are listed below.
The Market Square area will indulge all the senses
“On your marks, get set, Oulu!” The European Capital of Culture year officially opens on Friday afternoon, 16 January, in Oulu Market Square. This half-hour kick-off will certainly offer more than just speeches! The opening ceremony will also be streamed to the Rotuaari stage and the screens in the Valkea shopping centre.
Over the weekend, the Market Square will be taken over by Saara Aalto, local ice hockey team Oulun Kärpät, the Skidit Disco and DJs from the Frozen People festival. You will be left breathless by Terje Isungset’s concert performed with ice instruments, and there will be an opportunity for dancing and creating art together. There will also be the premiere of an impressive dance film about Arctic climate change and snow loss. In the market hall, you can sample Arctic Food Lab delicacies prepared by students at the Oulu Regional Vocational School OSAO.
The opening of the renovated central library and the children’s cultural centre Kotilo will be celebrated over the course of the weekend. To celebrate Book of Oulu, created by over 200 Oulu children and artists, there will be a party to mark the occasion. You can get your copy signed by the charming young authors in person while exploring exhibitions that will inspire the whole family.
Sámi art will also take centre stage. The Sámi opera Ovllá will have its world premiere at the Oulu Theatre. This opera highlights the perspective of the only indigenous people in the Nordic countries and has been produced in collaboration with the Oulu Symphony Orchestra and the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš. Meanwhile, the Art Museum will open an extensive Eanangiella – Voice of the Land exhibition, which celebrates the vitality and beauty of Sámi culture and the indigenous people’s connection to their land and ancestors.
Rare visiting exhibitions, top artists and greetings from the wider Oulu2026 region
Oulu City Hall will host Layers of Peace Machine, an art installation that combines art and technology and changes form through constant interaction with the public. The Kiasma Ear Worm media art exhibition will also open, and the Cathedral Sounds event, which takes place over the weekend, will highlight the importance of church and traditions as part of European cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, the Rotuaari stage will feature performances by Northern Finnish artists, including SANA, Peltokurki, JUNNA, Yungmiqu and Iso Ilo. The Kajaani City Theatre and Xulu202x will also be showing their skills, offering a taste of their upcoming dance production.
For the first time, Fotografiska Tallinn will bring a photography exhibition to Finland. Additionally, during the festival, the Pekuri Shopping Mall will present a journey through the entire Oulu2026 area, which comprises 40 municipalities. Partners from Kalajoki valley, Kainuu, the northern end of the Bothnian Bay and Pyhäjoki valley will bring their colourful greetings to the festival.
Valkea’s Summer Street will feature thought-provoking performances by Stepa, Ylva Haru and Valkea. There will also be skilful theatre and dance performances, as well as crazy acrobatics and the opportunity to experience different cultures from around the world. In addition to the street level, there are experiences to be found all over the shopping centre. Can you solve all the clues in the fun art hunt around the building? At OSAO’s Glitter Garden, festival-goers can take their look to the next level. Meanwhile, at Kauppuri Square next to Valkea, OSAO’s car hobbyist park will have their lights flashing and tunes playing!
From light art to volunteering – other European Capitals of Culture showcased
There is always something happening at the Valve Culture Centre, and there will be even more going on during the Opening Festival! You can look forward to a sneak preview of the entire festival programme and events for the coming year, as well as impressive community art, fascinating exhibitions, music videos, fairy tales and dance acrobatics. There will be a community travel agency open, and even the cleaning equipment will have a story to tell. In the evenings, the windows of the Valve will be adorned with magnificent light installations.
In addition to Liepāja’s sunny atmosphere, Oulu10’s weekend of events will feature entertainment based on the experiences and skills of veteran city dwellers. There will be old man ballet and choral performances, as well as a concert by an accordion legend, a senior disco and stories of Nätti-Jussi. The NGO get-togethers will showcase various types of volunteering, and you will have the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals.
The city centre’s cafés and restaurants will showcase other European Capitals of Culture – past and future, from home and abroad – over the weekend. The programme includes music, animation, stand-up comedy and the unveiling of a mural. Representatives from the other 2026 title holder – Trenčín (Bar Ihku) from Slovakia — as well as Turku (45 Special), Kiruna (Kaarlenholvi & Jumpru Pub) and the European Capital of Culture network Culture Next (Teerenpeli), will be there to welcome you. The Liepāja Summer Oasis will be inviting you to the Oulu10 EU Lounge at Pub Leskinen.
A wide range of artists, professionals, businesses and communities present the events and other programming of the inaugural festival, most of which will offer a taste of what will be experienced later in the year. The project is coordinated by the Oulu Culture Foundation. Changes to the programme are possible. Many of the exhibitions opening during the festival will remain open after the first weekend.
