Action-packed opening week ahead
The week’s activities include the traditional Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year, inaugural lectures by new professors, student Hurmos events, an ecumenical service organised by the parish, and Campus as a Stage events.
The official Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year takes place at Oulu Theatre on Tuesday 8 September 2026. The ceremony features speeches on science, education, and culture, awards for distinguished members of the university community, and a preview of the Oulu Theatre autumn season.
Hurmos, the academic year opening event for higher education students in Oulu, spans three days from 9 to 11 September 2026. Highlights include a sitsit academic dinner party in Åströminpuisto, the daytime Hurmos event on Linnanmaa campus, and the week’s main celebration at Kuusisaari in the evening. Finland’s largest start-of-year student event is organised by OYY, the Student Union of University of Oulu in collaboration with OSAKO, the Student Union of Oulu University of Applied Sciences.
Opening week’s programme
- Monday 7 Sept, 16:00–18:00: Campus as a Stage After Work: Academic Year Opening at Pihlajapiha
- Tuesday 8 Sept, 09:50–10:10: Campus as a Stage: Cultural lectures - Classical Hits II
- Tuesday 8 Sept, 13:30: Ecumenical service at Oulu Cathedral
- Tuesday 8 Sept, 15:00: Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year at Oulu Theatre
- Wednesday 9 Sept: Hurmos sitsit academic dinner party in Åströminpuisto park (city centre)
- Thursday 10 Sept: Hurmos day event at Linnanmaa campus
- Thursday 10 Sept, 17:00–19:00: New professors’ inaugural lectures at Saari Central Library
- Friday 11 Sept: Hurmos evening event at Kuusisaari
- Saturday 12 Sept, 14:00: Free screening of the film Ortotopologian loputtomat alkeet at Linnanmaa campus, lecture hall L1