Alumni Day

How are your former fellow students and teachers? What research is being carried out currently at the University of Oulu? How does university education provide a foundation for a career in the cultural sector? Come and find out on the homecoming day! The shared day for alumni and university members culminates in a relaxed evening event. Bring along a study friend—or even your entire class! Registration is open until April 9th.

Who can attend?

Alumni Day welcomes graduates of the University of Oulu (alumni) with their avec, staff, students, and members of the University of Oulu Association.

Programme

In the spirit of the Oulu European Capital of Culture, Alumni Day offers a diverse range of programme from noon until late in the evening. The day is divided into three parts, and you may register for all of them or choose the ones that suit you best. Except for the evening programme, participation is free of charge.

Registration

Time: from 11.00
Location: Linnanmaa campus main lobby area
Entrance: University main entrance 2T , Erkki Koiso-Kanttilan katu street

Register for the Alumni Day at the Info desk. You can pick up your faculty-specific badge and alumni pin. You may also register later at a time that suits you, before 15.00. In case you attend only the evening programme, you may also register at the evening venue entrance.

Open house: Nostalgia, encounters and science

Time: 12.00–15.00
Location: Linnanmaa campus main lobby area
Entrance: University main entrance 2T , Erkki Koiso-Kanttilan katu street

Come and enjoy the atmosphere on campus, meet members of the university community, and update your knowledge with the help of researchers from the University of Oulu.

• 12.15–13.30 Oulu2026: Brave hinterland, Cool Contrasts, The Wild City – scientific talks by researchers in Finnish and English from various fields at the University of Oulu on current topics. Research from all eight faculties will be presented in different lecture halls.
• 12.00–15.00 Meet the staff and alumni at the faculty meeting points
• 13.45–14.30 Join a campus tour. Please note: the number of participants is limited, and one tour is available in English.
• Walk around the campus and enjoy the atmosphere at your own pace.
• From 14.00 Cake and coffee will be served for Alumni Day guests. You may come for coffee according to your own schedule.

Join the day as a group:
During the alumni day you can arrange a meet-up with your former fellow students or your class.

Joint afternoon session: Art, stories and future

Time: 14.00–17.00
Location: Central Lobby and lecture hall L1
Entrance: University main entrance 2T , Erkki Koiso-Kanttilan katu street

The University of Oulu is participating in Oulu’s European Capital of Culture year 2026 and is part of the cultural climate change. The event features greetings from the rector, speeches by our distinguished alumni and impressive music.

• From 14.00 Cake and coffee will be served for Alumni Day guests. You may come for coffee according to your own schedule.
• At 15.00 Joint afternoon event in lecture hall L1
• Music performance by baritone and alum of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oulu Tomi Punkeri
• Welcome, rector Arto Maaninen
• Panel discussion with alumni working in the fields of culture
  • Venla Aakko, scriptwriter and journalist
  • Pekka Timonen, Mayor of Vantaa and Chair of the Finnish Museums Association
  • Sigga-Marja Magga, Director of the Giellagas Institute at the University of Oulu, University Lecturer in Sámi Culture, Docent
• Interview with the Alum of the Year 2025, Baylie Damtie Yeshita
• Keynote speech. More details later.
  
  The event will be hosted by Simo Kekäläinen. The language of the afternoon session is mainly Finnish.

A bus transfer to Oulu city centre will be available for those who have registered for transportation at 17.30.

Alumni evening at the heart of the Capital of Culture

Time: 19.30–23.30
Location: Radisson Blu (restaurant Toivo), Hallituskatu 1, Oulu Torinranta market square
Tickets: 20 eur / person (alumni, students, staff and members of the University of Oulu Association)

The Alumni Day celebrations continue at the Oulu Torinranta market square! Spend your Friday evening with fellow alumni and the university community in the heart of the city, enjoying good music and a relaxed programme.

• 19.30 doors open
• 20.00 Programme begins: Welcome words
• Stand-up comedy by Ray Zambino (in English)
• Finnish pop-rock band from Haukipudas: Aknestik
• 23.30 evening ends
  

The evening’s dance music will be provided by DJ Pyhis. The host of the evening is our alum Eero Hiidenvuori. The language of the evening programme is Finnish and English.

Register now

Please note that no food or drinks are provided by the university during the evening event. Restaurant Toivo’s bar and the restaurant Ule at Radisson Blu will serve Alumni Day guests on a self-pay basis.

Event details and the full programme will be updated on this page during spring 2026. We reserve the right to make changes to the programme. Mark the date in your calendar and stay tuned by joining the alumni network to receive updates.

If you have any questions, please contact: alumni(at)oulu.fi

Oulu is the European Capital of Culture for the year 2026. Alumni Day 2026 is part of cultural climate change and the Oulu2026 cultural programme organized by the University of Oulu.