One of the summer’s highlights of the European Capital of Culture, Summer Night’s Table attracted more than 20,000 people to Oulu city centre on Saturday 15th August. Around one kilometre long table was set throughout the city centre, with 60 food vendors taking part. A diverse programme was presented on three stages and along the streets.
The communal event got underway before midday, when a parade of representatives from Oulu2026 region set off from Linnansaari towards the city center. The Toripolliisi statue was dressed in a festive chef’s outfit, while a large cooking pot was struck in Rotuaari at noon to mark the official start of the event.
“Events like this work well in Oulu. We were blessed with great weather, people were in high spirits, and the event areas were full of people,” says Katri Jämsä, the producer from the Oulu2026 team.
The tables were decorated with floral arrangements created by floristry students from OSAO, as well as unique tablecloths created through a collaboration between Proto – Association of Finnish Designers in Northern Finland and the China Academy of Art in Oulu’s twin city of Hangzhou. Päivi Tahkokallio, Director of the Proto2026 Design Programme, says the tablecloths attracted a great deal of interest and admiration.
“The patterns were designed by five young design students, with people, culture, nature, architecture and technology as their sources of inspiration. The designs incorporate elements from both twin cities and their cultures. Later, some of the designed fabric will be donated to Oulu2026 partner municipalities, the Embassy of Finland in Beijing and the Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai,” Tahkokallio adds.
Summer Night’s Dinner is part of Oulu2026’s Arctic Food Lab programme. The event, now held for the fourth time, is produced by the Oulu Culture Foundation. The event partners include Proto ry, OSAO, Sanoma Media, Bauer Media, Haurun Jäteauto, Uniresta, K-Supermarket Pekuri, Balmuir, Taito Pohjois-Pohjanmaa, Oulun kirjakauppa, Oulu Comics Centre, The Martha Association of Northern Ostrobothnia, Joo Group, Otaxi, Pörhö, WTF Design, Menevä and Oulu Urban Culture.
A boom in food events continues in the European Capital of Culture
Arctic Food Lab is one of the European Capital of Culture’s longest-running and most extensive programmes. Food culture has played an important role in the Oulu2026 cultural programme from the very beginning.
“Food events are clearly attracting a lot of interest, as Summer Night’s Table demonstrated. Fortunately for food lovers, there are more events coming up soon. The Arctic Tasting in September is particularly exciting, with a record number of restaurants and cafés creating dishes and drinks for people to try,” says Pasi Ruuskanen, Project Manager of Arctic Food Lab.
The Arctic Tasting takes place from 23 to 26 September in Oulu. The event highlights the food culture and local ingredients of the Oulu2026 region, while also lowering the threshold for customers to try new restaurants. Read more here
See the upcoming events
- “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 - 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 - 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
Additional information
Project Manager Pasi Ruuskanen, +358 400 163 987, pasi.ruuskanen@oulu2026.eu
Producer Katri Jämsä, +358 40 542 4081, katri.jamsa@oulu2026.eu
Communications Specialist Katri Dahlström, +358 40 839 7229, katri.dahlstrom@oulu2026.eu
