The Culture Next Lounge is opening its doors in Oulu this Friday, 16 January, at 17:00, at Teerenpeli (LOCATION HERE), right in the heart of the Oulu2026 Opening Festival. For two days, the Lounge will become a true hotspot for the Culture Next network, a meeting point, a creative hub, and a shared home base for everyone interested in culture, exchange, learning community and fun.

If you’re in town for the Oulu2026 Opening Festival, make the Culture Next Lounge your HQ, bring your colleagues, your friends, and your fellow culture people. Drop in for a coffee, stay for a panel, come back for the concerts. On Friday and Saturday, 16th and 17th of January, the Lounge will host inspiring conversations, open stages, live performances, and moments that reflect what Culture Next is all about: collaboration, curiosity, and connection.

One of the highlights of the programme is the live painting by Finnish artist Petri Kulju, where one of the core ideas of Culture Next will come to life on canvas:
the symbiosis between winners and non-winners in the European Capital of Culture journey.

At the end of the day, the energy is still vibrant so join us for the Culture Next Afterparty, a moment to unwind, connect, and celebrate the Culture Next spirit together.

Day 1 – Friday, 16 January

Theme: Winning and Losing in the ECoC World

17:00 – 18:30 | Culture Next Panel
Winning and Losing in the ECoC World
Why failure can build legacies. And why it’s important to fail, sometimes.

A conversation about what success and failure mean in the context of the European Capital of Culture journey.
What can cities learn from not winning? How can “failure” become the seed for legacy, creativity, and new beginnings?

Speakers:
• Immie Jonkman – Board Member, Culture Next | CEO Arcadia, Leeuwarden (Friesland, NL)
• Bruno Inacio – Members & Mobilities Manager, Culture Next | Coordinator of Faro’s ECoC 2027 bid (PT)
• Henri Turunen – Board Member, Culture Next | Executive Producer Oulu2026 (FI)
• Martin Mojžiš – Trencin2026 | Manager for the European Dimension & International Relations (SK)

During the panel, participants will be invited to share their reflections and ideas on paper, contributing to a collective exercise that will later inspire the Culture Next mural.

19:00 – 21:00 | Open Stage for Culture Next Members
The Lounge opens its stage to the network’s cities to showcase their voices, artists, programmes, and ideas.
Short presentations, performances, or pitches are welcome in a relaxed and creative atmosphere.

21:00 – 22:00 | Culture Next World Village
Each city hosts a small stand — a literal “taste of home.”
From local dishes and drinks to stories, music, and souvenirs, the World Village celebrates the diversity of the Culture Next network.

22:00 – 23:30 | Elena Mîndru Quintet Concert & Jam Session
Music brings everyone together. Elena Mîndru Quintet takes the stage, featuring Samu Forsblom, Programme Director of Oulu2026, on trumpet.

From 23:00, the jam session opens to all jazz lovers.

Line-up:
Elena Mîndru – vocals
Samu Forsblom – trumpet
Tuomas J. Turunen – piano
Jaakko Kontila – bass
Olli Estola – drums

00:00 – 03:00 | Culture Next Afterparty & Bruno’s Birthday
Every good story deserves a night to remember.
Join the official afterparty and celebrate Bruno Inacio’s birthday with music, friends, and the unmistakable energy of the Lounge.

Day 2 – Saturday, 17 January

Theme: Art, Recovery & Reflection

15:00 – 17:00 | Hangover Brunch with Culture Next Artists
A slow start to the day with coffee, brunch, and good conversations.
Artists originally from Culture Next cities, now based in Finland (especially Oulu), will perform and share their creative journeys.

17:00 – 19:00 | Open Stage for Culture Next Members | Special performance – ANIBAL

On the second day of the Culture Next lounge you’re invited to a special performance with Aníbal.

Aníbal (Anibah / Aniba Faycan) is a rapper, poet, educator, and cultural manager born in the Canary Islands. His work exists at the intersection of spoken word, contemporary poetry, and urban culture, with a strong insular and Atlantic foundation. Through rap and spoken word, he develops a distinct voice that engages with Canarian literary tradition, collective memory, and the intimate conflicts of the present.

Aníbal understands art as an act of presence and responsibility: speaking what hurts, naming what is hidden, and dignifying both individual and collective voice. His trajectory positions him as an active figure within the Canarian cultural ecosystem, committed to critical thinking, honest creation, and community building.

20:00 | Unveiling of the Culture Next Mural
Inspired by the ideas shared during the panel “Winning and Losing in the ECoC World,” the mural symbolically captures the shared values, vulnerabilities, and hopes of the Culture Next network.

20:30 – 00:00 | Smooth Afterparty
No loud beats this time — just music, conversation, and a warm atmosphere to close two days of connection and collaboration.

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