The European Capital of Culture 2026 Presents Sámi Opera & Ice Sauna Experiences

The European Capitals of Culture have been awarded since 1985, and Oulu is the third Finnish city to receive this title. Home to 220,000 residents, Oulu’s foundation is built on enterprise and education, with 25,000 students attending its two universities. The internationally recognized title of European Capital of Culture brings unique events, artworks, tech and world-class performers to Oulu and its 39 partner municipalities in the happiest country in the world.

Over 1,000 events are already listed in the official calendar, with further additions to follow. The first months of the year will offer a series of winter events – from snow sculpting and ice swimming to electronic music and light experiences on frozen seas – creating an atmosphere where northern culture meets European creativity. Food, music and community are at the heart of the summer events.

Ovvlá brings to Oulu Theatre the perspective of the Sámi, the only indigenous people of the Nordic countries. The world premiere of Ovvlá opera will feature Sámi musicians and joikers, who are well-known within the Sámi community but rarely seen on Finnish stages, in January. At its core, it explores identity, shame, and the legacy of silence – and how language and culture can reconnect with our roots together with Oulu symphony.

Fotografiska Tallinn brings a photo exhibition to Finland for the first time. Entitled PLAY, the group exhibition featuring sixteen artists opens on January 14. It aims to reconnect us with unplanned play and open a space where viewers can explore together whether or not plays have survived in their lives. Fotografiska is the contemporary museum of photography, art & culture, founded in Stockholm in 2010.

Frozen People is a winter festival of electronic music and Northern art, held on the frozen sea on March 2. The art program encompasses performances, installations, soft spaces and encounters, light art, and interdisciplinary art, all available until 10 pm. One of the highlights is the Ice Ars Beibi collective’s work Jään, Saunaan – a sauna built from ice and freely accessible to the public. This year, the festival extends to the city centre, a new After Sea techno party (k18) will take place at the Cultural House until morning. Additionally, the S+T+ARTS tent will feature its own diverse program, including a per-formative karaoke corner.

Arctic Food Lab programme celebrates northern cuisine, which is based on local ingredients such as wild berries, mushrooms, and fish, by organizing Summer Evening Catering to bring together locals and guests. You can sit at the table with your own delicacies or get local, authentic dishes from the local vendors. Proto – Northern Finland Designers and design students from Hangzhou’s China Academy of Art will create a unique 1000-metre-long designer tablecloth for the Summer Evening catering. 

Autumn will highlight the synergy between art, science and technology. Lumo Light Festival expands into the ten-day Lumo Art & Tech Festival, combining international expertise in visual art, light, and sound. Large-scale installations will transform public spaces, while immersive works in unexpected venues will challenge perceptions of nature, space and time. Underground Clash (working title) is an immersive art installation by Danish artist Jakob Kudsk Steensen, created from ecological fieldwork within Finland, and staged beneath central Oulu in the parking facility.