The Oulu2026 programme is built around the theme of Cultural Climate Change, meaning a lasting enrichment of cultural life – connecting people through world-class experiences, creativity, and new ways of thinking.

For Oulu, the privilege of hosting the European Capital of Culture title brings with it a transformative calendar year for the city and Northern Finland. The celebrations and cultural programming will not only highlight the region’s creativity and beauty, but also provide opportunities to share and experience culture from different parts of Europe.

“2026 will be a transformative year – for our city, for Northern Finland, and for Europe. We invite everyone to join us as we open the door to new stories, encounters and experiences shaped by our unique northern perspective,” says Piia Rantala-Korhonen, CEO of Oulu2026.

Oulu is the capital of the north with a population of 200,000. The program promises to showcase numerous events to highlight the cultural wealth of the region. Large-scale exhibitions and performative art, world premieres, village celebrations, as well as permanent art installations, will be some of the cultural festivities. The program will also encompass sports activities and community gatherings for locals and tourists.

The subtheme “Cultural Climate Change” forms the backbone of Oulu2026. It focuses on the enduring enrichment of cultural life, the celebration of culture in its multifaceted form, as well as addressing the global societal challenges concerning culture. The program will foster participation, thus creating forums for dialogue, imagination, as well as innovation. The organizers want to foster cultural expressions through the arts in the service of social change by focusing on climate change.

Oulu2026 aims to achieve a sustainable impact, not only in the context of the events but also by cultivating cultural ties across European citizens. The organizers have aimed to bequeath a legacy of imagination and the experiences designed to stimulate creativity and understanding for the generations to come. This exchange of culture will be essential to the city’s identity as the European Capital of Culture awarded to it for the year.

Live stream details

Programme Launch: Thursday 4 September 2025
Time: 11:00 EET / 9:00 CET
Live stream link here.

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