As someone who has spent over two decades researching European Capital of Culture hosting processes — and, in particular, observing the role of opening ceremonies and the use of public space — I approached Oulu 2026’s opening weekend with a mix of curiosity and professional interest.

Culture Next was proud to be part of the opening weekend of the Oulu2026 celebration events. Over 250 cultural events, concerts, exhibitions, and various other activities took place between 16 and 18 January in the European Capital of Culture, and for the first two days, the Culture Next Lounge at Teerenpeli was one of the hotspots. The events gathered over 400 people for the two days, including international guests, artists, experts from the EcoC World and locals.

The place opened on Friday, the 16th, with an inspiring and engaging conversation about what it truly means to carry the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) title.

Moderated by Bruno Inacio, Coordinator of Faro’s ECoC 2027 bid, the discussion brought together Culture Next members and a highly engaged local audience. With humor, warmth and emotional depth, the panel focused on the human side of the ECoC journey, beyond strategies and official narratives.

Participants explored key themes such as the emotional work behind ECoC projects, the transformation cities go through when culture becomes a shared mission, and the sense of pride that already emerges from the simple act of applying for the title. The atmosphere was open, honest and reflective, with moments of laughter and shared understanding.
At the same time, Finnish visual artist Petri Kulju captured the energy of the discussion in real time. Inspired by the exchanges between

Bruno Inacio (Faro 2027),
Immie Jonkman (CEO of Arcadia, Leeuwarden 2018),
Henri Turunen (Oulu 2026), and
Martin Mojžiš (Trenčín 2026),

Kulju transformed ideas into visual form, creating a live painting that reflected the emotions and themes of the conversation. The artwork was unveiled the next day, in the evening programe.
The first day continued with a live concert by Elena Mîndru & Quintet feat. Samu Forsblom on trumpet, which attracted such a large audience that public access had to be temporarily paused. Elena’s performance combined original compositions with songs in Romanian, her native language, creating a warm, energetic and engaging atmosphere.

The evening concluded with a spontaneous jam session, where local artists took the stage together with Aniba, a hip-hop artist from Las Palmas. His Latin-inspired style added a distinctive rhythm to the night and extended the sense of cultural exchange beyond the main concert.
The second day at the Culture Next Lounge, hosted at Teerenpeli, began with a relaxed Hangover Brunch, offering the Culture Next team the opportunity to meet and present the network to journalists from Kaleva, the most important newspaper in Northern Finland.

The Open Stage programme followed, opening with a semi-acoustic concert by Sara Vuletic, ECoC Consultant, and Nemanja Popovic, both representing Nikšić2030 (Montenegro). Their emotional and intimate performance highlighted why Nikšić holds the title of UNESCO City of Music.

The most anticipated moment of the day came with a one-hour performance by hip-hop artist Anibah from Las Palmas2031. Constantly interacting with the audience, dancing among the crowd and improvising in freestyle style, Anibah brought strong energy and connection to the Lounge.

Later, Petri Kulju officially unveiled the painting created during the first day’s panel and shared insights into its meaning and creative process. The programe concluded with a DJ set by DJ Skasi, closing the Lounge on a relaxed and upbeat note.

With meaningful conversations, strong artistic moments and a welcoming atmosphere, the Culture Next Lounge in Oulu offered a powerful space for exchange, creativity and connection.

Slovakia’s Trenčín, co-European Capital of Culture 2026 with Finland’s Oulu, offered a first glimpse of its rich cultural scene at Oulu’s opening festival last weekend. While Oulu launched its cultural year from January 16–18, Trenčín is preparing its own opening weekend from February 13–15, highlighting the city’s traditions, creativity, and community spirit.

A huge number of people gathered at the Oulu2026 Opening Festival to celebrate the launch of the European Capital of Culture year on 16–18 January. Around 200 events across Oulu city centre attracted over 250,000 visits. The programme offered a wide range of cultural experiences, from concerts to ice hockey, acrobatics to car tuning, panel discussions to pub quizzes, and from art exhibitions to dance parties in the snow.

Culture Next, the network of 50 European cities of which EcocNews is a media partner, will be present with its own delegation and its own space at the Oulu 2026 opening ceremony.