Wild City
Oulu is on the cusp. We could settle for being a tame municipal city on the fringe. Or we could go Wild. We choose Wild.
With Wild City we bring wildness into the city by celebrating the wilderness around it. Creating a new cultural approach with our unique northern vibe. Oulu as a cultural laboratory, going wild for Europe.
What exactly is a creative city in the middle of the wild nature? What is a lively, creative village? How do art, subcultures and creative spaces fill emptiness, silence and darkness?
BidBook (pages 22-35)
Programme lines
Each of the three programme themes include programme lines which enable us to group connected projects together to maximise synergy and impact.
Art Takeover!
Meet the buzz. Dancers, circus, poetry and artwork taking over the city. Art might surprise you as a spectacular event or when you walk into a grocery store. It tunes you into creativity at your workplace, makes you smile on a busy day.
Creative Villages
The Creative Villages programme line reshapes the city and its cultural climate by adding places for creativity in the urban space.
Stream to the future
True and sustainable cultural climate change begins with children and young people. Our schools and cultural services will collaborate to seek solutions to future challenges at the crossroads of art, science and technology.
Urban Boost
The Urban Boost programme line gives young people the opportunity to build the future on their own terms and to challenge out-dated practices.
Latest
The search for artists for the Oulu2026 stage at the Qstock festival has started
For the Oulu2026 stage, we are looking for fresh, diverse and forward-thinking artists from the Oulu region. The application period ends on 1 March.
Oulu2026 is almost here!
The Oulu2026 Capital of Culture year is just two years away! Who are you going to invite to the opening ceremony?
Frozen People: Open Call
FROZEN PEOPLE is a festival of electronic music, northern art and wintry style. The event takes place on the frozen sea at Nallikari (Oulu) on the 2nd of March 2024 from 14:00 to 22:00. This free-to-enter festival is produced by Oulu Urban Culture and is part of the cultural program of the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture. The organizers are now looking for enthusiastic artists to implement the art program.
The sustainable event production guide has been published
The sustainable event production guide has been published. The guide supports the responsible organization of events in the Oulu region.
In which district of Oulu will the next mural be placed?
Upeart, a Finnish public art professional, is involved in our cultural program with the “Joy from Urban contemporary art” -project, which produces mural artworks around the Oulu area. The locations for the murals are chosen by the residents of Oulu in annual votes,...
Call for Young Volunteers to Tartu in the beginning of 2024
Tartu, one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2024, is looking for three young people aged 18–30 from the Oulu2026 region to volunteer between January 25 and February 13, 2024. The selected young people get to create a unique youth celebration on International...
Glowember – Lottery Participation Rules
Organizer Oulun kulttuurisäätiö sr Y-tunnus 3246820-6 Torikatu 18 1 krs., 90100 Oulu oulu2026@ouka.fi Lottery You can participate in the lottery from November 1, 2023, to November 30, 2023. The lottery will be drawn every Monday among those who have participated in...
Introducing Glowember
Glowember is coordinated by the Oulu Culture Foundation. The Glowember events are organized by various entities, including municipalities and associations. Some of the events are already well known, while others are being organized for the first time. The whole spectacle takes place over a broader area, as part of the journey toward the Cultural Capital Year in 2026.
Tales of Tar introduces historic Oulu
The Tales of Tar route that can be experienced digitally on mobile devices around Oulu will open in November. The cultural history route consists of 10 fascinating short stories written by author Katariina Vuori. The stories are based on authentic locations, events...
Hybrid Event Producer 2026 project develops digital and remote culture experiences
Oulu2026 has launched the Hybrid Event Producer 2026 project in cooperation with Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OUAS). The ESF+-funded project will develop and pilot more interesting digital concepts for the event industry on how live events can be experienced...