The member festivals of Oulu August Festivals will create a truly European August of experiences in 2026 by being part of the European Capital of Culture programme. The summer culminates in the Delta Life grand finale weekend, which invites the whole world to pause the wheel of time at the birthplace of Oulu.
Oulu August Festivals in the European Capital of Culture year:
- Elojazz (30 July–1 August) brings a New Orleans–style jazz street to the city together with Oulu2026.
- Oulunsalo Soi Chamber Music Festival (5–9 August) resounds with Eurovision! High quality with a low threshold.
- Muusajuhlat Literature Festival (19–23 August) explores what it means to be European and how its conscious or unconscious influence shapes both Finnish and international literature.
- Oulu Arts' Night transforms into Oulu No Arts Day (20 August), which extends throughout the weekend as the Delta Art Days (21–23 August). The Oulu No Arts Day prompts reflection on what life would be without art, while the Delta Art Days present a cavalcade of creativity and tune the city for the following week’s Delta Life grand finale.
- Air Guitar World Championships are part of the Delta Life grand finale. On the Delta Stage, at the birthplace of the City of Oulu, the greatest air guitar show of all time will unfold. The first final round takes place on Friday, 28 August, and the second on Saturday, 29 August, when the world champion will be crowned.
- Oulu Music Video Festival (27–30 August) launches a new European music video competition. Entries for the international competition open at the end of 2025, and for the national competition at the beginning of 2026.
- Premiere on 27 August: Faravid’s Land, a new immersive work created by Flow Productions and Oulu Theatre.
- Delta Life Grand Finale (27–29 August) crowns Oulu August Festivals. As the sun sets on the Delta Stage, at the birthplace of Oulu, global influences meet the life of the Oulujoki River. A carnival-like yet deeply moving, all-encompassing cultural experience awaits – free of charge.
The Oulu August Festivals are being held for the 15th time this year. Awesome August begins with Elojazz on Thursday, July 31st, and ends with Choir Day at the City Hall on Friday, August 29th.
During the month-long multidisciplinary arts festival, highlights include the 20th anniversary of the Oulu All Star Big Band, heroic chamber music experiences, literary art from punk to opera, the first Nordic music video competition, and a variety of children's programs. Contestants from 15 countries will compete for the Air Guitar World Championship title.
Most of the hundreds of events in August are free of charge. Tickets are already running low for some events, and tickets for late-August events will go on sale in early August. The full program is available on the Oulu August Festivals website. There you can browse and filter events by calendar, art form, or event type. The events of Oulu Arts' Night are also shown on a map.
Elojazz – July 31–August 2
Elojazz opens with a performance by Iiro Rantala at Tuira Church. As in previous years, the main concerts will take place in the atmospheric open-air Hupisaari Open-Air Theater on Friday and Saturday. Pre- and after-parties will be held at Jumpru and the Amarillo nightclub. Artistic director Aili Ikonen has curated a program featuring top-tier international and Finnish jazz performances.
Oulunsalo Soi – August 6–10
The Oulunsalo Soi Festival offers chamber music concerts with a twist of other art forms in surprising venues. Artistic director Atte Kilpeläinen’s guiding principle is that these experiences can’t be had anywhere else but at Oulunsalo Soi. Performances will take place in unique locations such as the Kuivuri venue at Akola Manor in Ii and a boathouse in Hietasaari. The world of comics also enters chamber music, as this year’s visual artist Aapo Kukko illustrates a Shostakovich concert.
Oulu Muusajuhlat Literary Arts Festival – August 13–17
Literature and spoken word in various forms fill downtown Oulu, with events at venues like Cultural Centre Valve, Cafe Konstantina, the pop-up stage Klonka, Tähtitorni Café, and several libraries. Events will also take place in Ii, Kempele, Pyhäjoki, and Hailuoto. The festival features literary discussions, poetry, and cross-disciplinary art clubs from lunchtime to late night—primarily in Finnish, but with room for other languages as well.
Oulu Arts' Night – August 14
The first program announcements for Oulu Arts' Night have been released, with dozens of events already scheduled. More events can still be submitted for programming. Traditionally, the Arts' Night draws tens of thousands of people to the city center to enjoy the arts.
Air Guitar World Championships – August 20–22
This year marks the 28th edition of the Air Guitar World Championships, promoting world peace, with the final taking place on Friday, August 22nd from 8–10:30 p.m. at Rotuaari Square. National champions and challengers from around 15 countries will compete, beginning with the Dark Horses Qualifications on Thursday. The festivities kick off on Wednesday, August 20th with “Airientation Day,” open to all air guitar enthusiasts. The day includes the whimsical “Airlympics” and takes place at World Music School Air by the river delta. The championship garners global media coverage reaching up to 450 million people each year.
Oulu Music Video Festival – August 21–24
In addition to the traditional national music video competition, the Oulu Music Video Festival will feature a Nordic competition this year. The festival’s theme is “Hyperreality.” Music videos, films, music, and club events will take place at Cultural Centre Valve, Pikisaari, Snooker, and 45Special. The Saturday night Pumpeli Gala will be held at RioLive.
Flow Circus – August 26–29
As part of the Oulu August Festivals, Flow Productions presents the contemporary circus performance A Study of Losses. The Kompani Giraffe production blends circus, modern magic, and object manipulation with music composed by Zach Condon of the American band Beirut.
Extras
The Extras program gives the audience the opportunity to experience the city from the perspective of a wheelchair user. The Esteetöntä (“Accessible”) performance is created in collaboration with the audience and will be turned into a media artwork. Accessibility to the arts is a special focus in the content and production of the Oulu August Festivals. The association's Saavuta project is working to improve both physical and mental accessibility at cultural events.
Choir Day – August 29
This year, Choir Day wraps up Oulu August Festivals on Friday. The final Friday evening of the summer will be filled with singing in pubs and on the streets—especially at Oulu City Hall. The newly renovated city hall provides a stunning visual and acoustic setting for choirs and vocal ensembles.
Children’s Program – August 3–17
Families will find plenty of events during Awesome August for Kids, part of the festival from August 3–17. From Children’s Jazz to the 30th anniversary concert of Soiva Siili, there’s something for kids of all ages.
Most of the events during the Oulu August Festivals are free of charge. You can explore the full program on our website, which is continuously updated. Ticket information is also available on the site.
We are looking for volunteers for a variety of roles at Oulu August Festival events. Volunteering offers valuable experience, helps you develop new skills, and gives you a behind-the-scenes look at event production.
Oulunsalo Soi
Oulunsalo Soi offers relaxed and engaging volunteer roles such as ticket sales, decoration, and catering. As a volunteer, you’ll get to enjoy incredible concerts and meet artists. If you're excited to join, sign up by Monday, July 14.
OMVF – Oulu Music Video Festival
OMVF is looking for volunteers for roles such as info staff, club assistants, tech crew, and roadies. As a volunteer, you’ll experience the festival from the inside and contribute to this unique celebration of music, moving image, and Northern urban culture in a warm and welcoming team. Volunteers are provided with a hot meal for each workday, free access to screenings and club events, and a festival t-shirt as a souvenir.
Elojazz
Elojazz is looking for cheerful, energetic, and reliable volunteers for various roles including setting up the festival area, decoration, wristband exchange, and customer service at ticket sales. The festival is also seeking a social media volunteer to create content from the concerts during the festival days.
In addition to work shifts, volunteers are offered meals, a festival t-shirt, and a festival pass for enjoying the music outside their shift hours. No previous experience is required.
Air Guitar World Championships
Volunteer tasks at the Air Guitar World Championships include event preparations, airport transfers, and working at info points and merchandise stalls. Volunteers are needed during the event week, Tuesday, August 19 to Friday, August 22.
During the first weekend of August, the city once again awakens to the rhythms of jazz as Elojazz returns to the heart of summer evenings for the 37th time. This three-day festival offers fresh tones, intriguing names, and, as always, a unique atmosphere that brings music lovers together from near and far. Expect an exceptional lineup of Finnish and international top musicians, curated by the festival's artistic director, Aili Ikonen.
The festival opens with jazz pianist Iiro Rantala's solo concert at the Tuira Church. Rantala takes his audience on a journey where technical mastery meets delicate expression, and surprising humor blends with deep emotion.
Oulu All Star Big Band celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and the milestone will be grandly marked at Elojazz with an anniversary club at the atmospheric RioLive. The concert will feature the renowned American jazz and soul singer China Moses, whose charisma and soulful interpretation captivate audiences time and time again. The concert will be conducted by the trumpeter and Oulu All Star Big Band's artistic director Jukka Eskola.
At the Hupisaari Open-Air Theater's main concerts, virtuoso performances will also be heard this year. The trio led by Italian jazz pianist Francesca Tandoi will charm the audience with their swinging music, refined style, and charismatic stage presence.
Josefiina Vannesluoma will present nuanced music with her band, Mortal Lease, where the moods range from ecstatic bursts to restrained elegance.
Norwegian saxophonist Marius Neset will perform with his quartet, which consists of European jazz virtuosos. Known for his rhythmic inventiveness and boundary-crossing musicianship, Neset will lead the audience into an exhilarating musical dialogue.
Tuomo Prättälä and Maja Mannila join forces in a unique ensemble that brings together two generations of visionary soul and jazz expression. Additionally, the talented young musicians of Oulu Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform on the Hupisaaret stage.
At Jumpru Pub, the traditional jazz clubs will take place on Friday and Saturday afternoon. After the main concerts, the Elojazz club gigs at Amarillo will feature performances by the young and talented Helmi Antila Quartet and the vibraphonist Panu Savolainen-led Herd Trio, which operates with a distinctive ensemble sound.
Win a ticket to a unique jazz experience on Fri, 2 August. Macro concert brings the artist close to you like a camera's macro lens. The jazz vocalist and Artistic Director of Elojazz, Aili Ikonen, will perform together with pianist Tuomas J. Turunen for just eight people in a secret location in Oulu on 2 August at 17:30.
Join the raffle by commenting the posts either on Facebook or Instagram by 29 July at 16:00. Tag a friend you'd like to bring along to share the experience with you. The winners will be notified personally.
In addition to the Macro Concert, Aili Ikonen will perform at Elojazz on 1 August as the soloist for Oulu Symphony in her "Valo" album release concert.
Photo: Tero Ahonen
Elojazz swings from the last Thursday of July to the fourth of August. On Thursday, the festival's artistic director Aili Ikonen's album release gig kicks off the Oulu Symphony Orchestra's autumn season. Friday and Saturday, jazz will be played as usual at Hupisaaret. The festivals are opened and closed at the church.
At Hupisaaret, OASBB will host American guitar virtuoso Robben Ford and acclaimed conductor Ed Partyka.
Bassist Kaisa Mäensivu's quartet, Kaisa’s Machine, presents a mature perspective on modern jazz. Continuously seeking new paths and evolving in a more personal direction, the band brings Mäensivu's multi-layered music to life.
Swedish band Dirty Loops skillfully blends elements of various music genres and dazzles with their virtuosic handling of instruments. Expect an entertaining show full of catchy rhythms and energy.
The stage at Hupisaaret will feature soulful interpretations when Aili Järvelä & Unituuli perform songs composed by Järvelä from the Unituuli album. Additionally, Oulu Youth Jazz Orchestra will be a regular guest.
At the Church of St. Thomas (Pyhän Tuomaan kirkko), the audience can enjoy expressive jazz guitar playing by Teemu Viinikainen Solo, where strong presence, sensitivity, and the beautiful sound of the guitar come together.
The longstanding collaboration with Jumpru Pub continues. Elojazz clubs will feature Dutch Swing College Band together with Kenneth Sjöwall’s Dixie Dudes, Jimi Ahlroos Quartet, Advanced Settings and Into Koponen Band. A Jazz Mass will be held at Church of Tuira on Sunday.
Elojazz celebrates its 35th anniversary at Hupisaaret, Church of Tuira, Madetoja Concert Hall and in smaller events at Jumpru Pub and a movie concert at Cultural Centre Valve. At the festival we can hear the sounds of Zara McFarlane, Richard Bona Trio, Johanna Iivanainen and Oulu Sinfonia, Emma Salokoski - Jarmo Saari, Olli Soikkeli - Cesar Carabini, Olli Ahvenlahti Poet 2, Aki Rissanen Hyperreal, Antti Lötjönen Quintet East, Megasakki and of course the artistic director of Elojazz, Jukka Eskola, playing his 10 year anniversary concert with Oulu Sinfonia.
Over the years the festival has established itself as one of the biggest Finnish jazz festivals. Artistic director for the festival is one of the most respected jazz musicians in Finland, trumpeter, Jukka Eskola. The festival is produced by Jazz-20 ry.
