{"id":20133,"date":"2025-02-03T15:23:44","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T14:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finncult.be\/?p=20133"},"modified":"2025-02-03T16:21:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T15:21:13","slug":"whats-happening-in-oulu-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finncult.be\/nl\/whats-happening-in-oulu-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s happening in Oulu in 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026 European Capital of Culture<\/strong> has been announced: the city of Oulu<\/strong>! The Northern Finnish city has been selected for next year, alongside the Slovakian city of Tren\u010d\u00edn. We got to experience Oulu\u2019s dynamic cultural scene firsthand during our production of Boys Won\u2019t Be Boys<\/em><\/a> at Oulun teatteri last year and we can’t wait to see what the city has in store for the year ahead.<\/p>\n

European Cultural capitals have existed since 1985, as an initiative from the European Union. Cultural capitals represent European unity and diversity, highlighting a shared identity across the continent. The selection process is managed by the European Commission. The city of Oulu was selected on the basis of its strong cultural scene and commitment to innovation. To name an example, Oulu\u2019s Frozen People<\/em><\/a> festival \u2014 an outdoor celebration of electronic music and the arts set on the frozen sea \u2014 perfectly showcases the city\u2019s creative edge.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oulu, the Northern Finnish Cultural Capital – how to get there?<\/h2>\n

The city of Oulu is located around halfway between the northernmost and southernmost points of Finland. Considering Finland is a similar length in comparison to Italy, this is quite a distance. To get to Oulu from Helsinki Central Station, you can take a 5-hour train or alternatively, experience an overnight train that takes around 8 hours. Choosing the train isn\u2019t just a comfortable and scenic way to travel\u2014it\u2019s also the more sustainable option.\u00a0 If you\u2019re on a tight schedule, there is also an option to fly.<\/p>\n

If you choose to take a train from Helsinki to Oulu, you can also make a visit to one of the cities on the way, like Tampere, Sein\u00e4joki or Kokkola. Tampere is known for its rock music, Sein\u00e4joki for its cultural events and Kokkola for its charming old town.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S\u00e1mi art & culture take centre stage at Oulu2026<\/h2>\n

The 2025 D\u00e1lvem\u00e1nnu<\/em> Festival (translates to winter month) celebrates S\u00e1mi arts, culture, and heritage in the lead-up to Oulu2026. It will even include a children\u2019s disco and an adults\u2019 party, S\u00e1mefeasta!<\/p>\n

The indigenous S\u00e1mi people live in S\u00e1pmi, a region spanning northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia\u2019s Kola Peninsula. The S\u00e1mi culture is rich and distinct with deep connections to nature, traditional livelihoods and a vibrant artistic heritage. The festival will feature films, exhibitions and discussions on S\u00e1mi politics. The event caters both to international and S\u00e1mi audiences.<\/p>\n

In January 2026, the S\u00e1pmi Triennale will highlight S\u00e1mi contemporary art as a part of Oulu2026. The exhibition features 25 artists selected from nearly 100 applicants. It will showcase duodji (traditional S\u00e1mi crafts), video, and literature, to name a few. The triennale has travelled across the Nordic countries and the S\u00e1pmi territory, starting in Bod\u00f8, Norway, in August 2024 and arriving at the Oulu Art Museum in 2026. The triennale will open in the S\u00e1mi Center for Contemporary Art<\/a> in Karasjok (or K\u00e1r\u00e1\u0161johka), Norway this Thursday.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Want to be part of Oulu2026? Apply now!<\/h2>\n

The Oulu2026 Open Call invites artists, performers, and cultural professionals to contribute to the programme. Applications<\/a> are open until the 31st of August 2025.<\/p>\n

This is a unique opportunity to take part in one of Europe\u2019s most exciting cultural celebrations \u2014 whether as a visitor or a participant. See you in Oulu in 2026!<\/p>\n

For more information, visit the Oulu2026<\/a> website.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Text by Maija Lindstr\u00f6m.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Oulu has been named the 2026 European Capital of Culture. Celebrating its arts scene, it will feature festivals, exhibitions and indigenous S\u00e1mi artists. Discover what the programme has to offer and how to get there!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":20134,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat\u2019s happening in Oulu in 2026? - Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Oulu has been named the 2026 European Capital of Culture. 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