Air Guitar World Championships
In the European Capital of Culture year 2026, the 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 take place. The first final round will be held on Friday, 28 August, and the second round on Saturday, 29 August, when the world champion will be crowned. The competition will be live streamed.
During the competition week, air guitar events for both competitors and fans will also be offered before and after the finals.
The Air Guitar World Championships is a celebration of love and peace. Since 1996, the semi absurd performance art has grown into a favourite of international audiences and media, spreading its message around the world. The year of air guitar culminates in August in Oulu, where national champions and black horses arrive to compete for the world championship. The official Air Guitar World Championships network includes a dozen countries from almost all continents.
The purpose of the Air Guitar World Championships is to promote world peace. According to the ideology of the competition, wars would end, climate change stop and all bad things disappear, if all the people in the world played the Air Guitar. This is why the whole universe is invited to play the Air Guitar for the world peace at the end of the competition.
Make Air, Not War
The Air Guitar World Championships are organized by Airnest Productions Ltd.
Below you can find the 2025 festival programme.
