Oulu is a lively city of events, known for its originality. Or what do you think of the Air Guitar World Championships, a festival on the frozen sea or a competition where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas while crouching in a freezing hole? No wonder Oulu has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2026! We've listed 5 different events that Oulu is known for. How many have you visited - and where will you go next?
Add to favouritesSee all your favourites5 events Oulu is known for! Oulu's events are charming in their own right
1. World Air Guitar Championships: humour and world peace in Oulu
Air Guitar World Championships is held in Oulu in August every year. Yes, you read that right: air guitar! Competitors from all over the world gather in Oulu in August, and during the main event, Rotuaari is packed with people and a great atmosphere.
The purpose of the Air Guitar World Championships is to promote world peace. The ideology of the competition is that if everyone in the world plays the air guitar, wars will end, climate change will stop and bad things will disappear. That's why, at the end of the competition, all people are invited to play the air guitar at the same time, to save the world.
Air Guitar World Championships is part of a multi-arts festival Oulu Festival Weekend, which will last throughout August. The city is packed with festivals and events ranging from Elojazz and the Oulu Music Video Festival to the Night of the Arts. So Oulu in August is definitely worth a visit!
Find out more2. The Lumo Light Festival: light and enchanting creativity in the middle of November
Oulu's November festival of light is as enchanting as its name suggests! The first festival of light was held in Oulu under the name Light up Oulu! Since then, the festival has grown in size and popularity, and today the weekend-long event brings top international lighting artists and their work to the city. Popular on At the Lumo Festival of Lights in 2023, there were even more than 100 000 visitors!
The works of light art are located in the centre of Oulu. In recent years, video works projected onto the exterior wall of the Oulu Cathedral have been particularly spectacular. Some of the artworks at the Lumo Festival will remain in the city as permanent works. The next festival of light will take place from 22-24 November 2024.
Find out more3. Qstock: the biggest festivals in Northern Finland
First Qstock festival was celebrated in 2003. The event, which was planned as a small-scale event, attracted over 7 000 visitors instead of the 3 000 expected. Over the next three years, the festival grew to become an event that attracts around 20 000 visitors a year.
Now sold out for ten summers in a row, Qstock has established itself as one of the biggest festivals in Finland. In 2019, a record-breaking attendance of 40 000 people over two days was achieved. Qstock celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023, which culminated in a wonderful culmination when Qstock won the Festival of the Year Award at the Music x Media Industry Awards in October 2023.
Next summer, Qstock will take place on 26-27 July 2024 and will feature The Prodigy, Zara Larsson, Kuumaa and Haloo Helsinki!, among others.
Find out more4. Frozen People Festival: techno and art on the frozen sea
Frozen People Festival has been called the Oulu version of the Burning Man festival. Frozen People is an electronic music and northern art festival in Oulu's Nallikariat. The event will be held in winter, defying the weather conditions Pon the ice of the Baltic Sea. Andätynyt sea offers brutal and unique arctic conditionsteas for the world's most exhilarating dance and art experiences.
The annual music programme features local and international talent. Art content includes performances, installations, light art and a variety of participatory programming. Frozen People is an experience you won't want to miss!
Frozen People toteuttonext time at the beginning of March 2025.
Find out more5. Polar Bear Pitching: the coolest startup event in the world
Polar Bear Pitching is an exceptional start-up event, and above all a showcase of Northern sisu for the whole world. Entrepreneurs will present their business ideas to a jury, investors and the public, standing in an opening in the Baltic Sea. The rules are simple: entrepreneurs can talk as long as they want, as long as they can stay in the water for the whole speech!
Polar Bear Pitching is both a competition for the best performance and a way to get visibility and funding for your business. In addition to the finals, the event includes a conference with inspiring talks from big names in the startup world, networking, an evening party and other side events.
Polar Bear Pitching is usually held in Oulu in the middle of February and March.
Find out moreSee the events calendar for upcoming events!
Are you looking for an activity, new information, relief from your cultural hunger or something new? There's always room for at least one Oulu-filled event experience! Find all the events in the Visit Oulu events calendar.
See the events calendar
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