Highlights of the University of Oulu’s Oulu2026 culture programme in November

Culture to brighten your study day

Music will once again be on the menu at lunchtime on the Linnanmaa campus on Wednesday, 4 November, from 11:30 to 12:00, when the Oulu University Chamber Orchestra performs at Restaurant Kerttu. This time, the programme will feature popular pop and rock tunes in a more light-hearted style. A smaller ensemble from the Chamber Orchestra will also perform movie-themed music in the Tellus lobby at Linnanmaa on Tuesday, 10 November, from 9:50 to 10:10. You are welcome to stop by and enjoy the performance during your coffee break!

The November cultural programme also invites everyone to step outside their comfort zones through live karaoke and improvisational theatre. At the Teekkaritorvet Live Karaoke event on Thursday, 12 November, from 11:30 to 12:15, you can take the stage in Saalastinsali and sing along to familiar hits accompanied by a live orchestra. Come alone or bring friends and let the music carry you away! Meanwhile, the Student Theatre of Oulu’s improvisation group invites students, staff and passers-by to dive into the world of improvisation on Tuesday, 17 November, from 9:50 to 10:10 in the Tellus lobby at Linnanmaa.

Members of the Student Theatre of Oulu will once again entertain diners at Restaurant Kerttu by reading stories and fairy tales during lunchtime. The story time will take place on Wednesday, 18 November, from 11:30 to 12:00 and all stories will be performed in Finnish.

Other events

One of the highlights of the University of Oulu’s Oulu2026 culture programme is the Festival of Cultures, celebrating the cultural diversity of our community throughout the week of 23–27 November 2026. On the evening of Thursday, 26 November, the Sámi music group Ulla Pirttijärvi & Ulda will perform in Saalastinsali. The concert is open to everyone interested. A more detailed Festival of Cultures programme will be published at the beginning of November.

The November Campus as a Stage After Work event brings a student-produced theatre performance and concert to the Linnanmaa campus on 25 November. The Student Theatre of Oulu will perform the monologue play Hiljaiset pellot in Agora starting at 17:00. From there, the evening continues in Saalastinsali, where the Woolly Sock Ball begins at 18:00. Organised in collaboration between the student choir TeeKu, Teekkaritorvet, and the Oulu University Chamber Orchestra, the event invites participants to put on their finest woolly socks and enjoy a warm and welcoming evening of live music and dancing. The Woolly Sock Ball event takes place on Wednesday, 25 November, from 18:00 to 20:00, and the admission is free.

On Friday, 27 November, the University of Oulu will host the May the Darkness Be With You innovation event for students and alumni. Participants will work together to develop creative and technological solutions for overcoming the challenges of the dark winter months. Student registration is open until 3 November.

The Tree of Art exhibition will bring inspiration to everyday campus life in the central lobby of the Linnanmaa campus. Works created in the art workshops and events of the art circle Tapiiri will be displayed on the branches of decorative Lovi trees. The exhibition will be freely accessible during campus opening hours from 9 November to 31 December 2026.

Lumo Art & Tech Festival takes place 13–22 November

The Lumo Art & Tech Festival is one of the highlights of Oulu’s European Capital of the Culture year. The University of Oulu is a programme partner of the festival alongside the City of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, the Oulu Museum and Science Centre, and several other collaborators.

The University of Oulu contributes to the festival programme by presenting its research and expert knowledge in approachable and engaging formats for all interested audiences. Highlights of the University's programme include the Kaitera Talks speaker series at Oulu Lyseon lukio, the Brown Bag Seminar at Central Library Saari, and keynote presentations and demonstrations showcasing the research of the University of Oulu’s 6G Flagship at Tarkastamo. Learn more about the University of Oulu’s Lumo Art & Tech Festival programme on the University of Oulu's website.

Be sure to explore and participate in the wider Oulu2026 programme at oulu2026.eu!