Set in the enchanting land of the Northern Lights, Snowball will have its world premiere in Oulu, Finland in December 2026. The Christmas musical for the whole family weaves together Northern legends in an exciting story full of magic, mystery and romance.
The main roles of Snowball are played by Kristo Salminen and Saara Aalto, with the Oulu Symphony Orchestra performing under the direction of conductor Kristian Nyman. In addition to the orchestra, 22 musical performers appear on stage.
The protagonist, Krista, is Santa’s goddaughter and has lived in Santa’s village, surrounded by Christmas magic, all her life. However, she has now started to crave adventure. At Christmas, an ancient spell is broken unexpectedly, revealing Santa’s mysterious past. Krista must rise to the challenge and save Christmas for children around the world.
The musical is produced by an experienced team: script and composition by Douglas Pashley, direction by Paul Garrington, set and costume design by Nicky Shaw, choreography by Reija Wäre, sound design by Richard Brooke, lighting design by Timo Alhanen, hair and make-up design by Pirjo Leino,andartistic production by Johan Storgård.
“The European Capital of Culture year ends at Christmas. What could be more fitting for one of the world’s northernmost cultural capitals than a Christmas musical. A stunning line-up of artists will bring a touch of London’s musical scene to the stage. Saara Aalto’s return to her roots in the musical is also something I’m looking forward to a lot,” says Oulu2026 Programme Director Samu Forsblom.
The world premiere of Snowball will take place in Oulu Hall on 4 December 2026. Screenings in the 2,500-seat auditorium will continue until 19 December, with a total of 19 screenings.
The musical will be performed in Finnish, with Swedish and English subtitles. Group ticket sales start on 1 October 2025, followed by regular ticket sales on 2 February 2026.
The musical is produced by the Oulu Culture Foundation, the organisation in charge of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture project.
