Oulu2026
In 2026, we want to enliven the University of Oulu's campuses with events, showcase the diverse cultural and scientific experiences of our international community, increase encounters between our multidisciplinary scientific community and city residents, and bring culture closer to the everyday life of our university community. The events are aimed at citizens of all ages, tourists, students, staff, alumni and partners of the university.
The traditional events organised each year at the university will have new cultural dimensions and they will be opened up to a wider audience. We will also launch entirely new events combining science and culture.
During Oulu's European Capital of Culture year, the Linnanmaa and Kontinkangas campuses will host monthly cultural lunches with surprising music and improvisation performances, as well as after-work
film nights, concerts and plays. A variety of temporary art exhibitions will be brought to the campuses and art tours will also be available on the campuses with advance booking.
For example, the University of Oulu's popular Festival of Cultures offers a unique opportunity to experience dozens of different cultures and meet people from around the world. In 2026, the event will be held for the first time in the city center of Oulu as a major one-day cultural festival for all ages. The Art & Tech Festival Week, full of art and technology, will see a variety of hackathons, conferences and seminars combining technology and culture on the university campuses.
In addition to the above examples, there is much, much more to come! The list of events at the university will be updated on this page during 2025.
Currently, the University of Oulu's cultureal programme for 2026 consists of the following events:
- Alumni Day
- Art & Tech Festival
- Campus as a Stage (including cultural lunches and lectures, after work events, exhibitions, community artworks and art tours)
- Festival of Cultures
- Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year
- Researchers’ Night
- University Business Forum
- University Gala
- 2026 Conference of the European Citizen Science
Some of the above events are supported by the Oulu Culture Foundation, that is responsible for the activities of Oulu2026. The 2026 culture programme organized in cooperation between the University of Oulu and the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) is coordinated by the Creative Campus working group established for this purpose.
For more information on the university's involvement in Oulu2026, please contact the Unit for Strategy and Science Policy at sty@oulu.fi. For more information about the programme content organized by OYY, please contact paasihteeri@oyy.fi.
